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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

IN CO-OPERATION WITH 

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN COMMISSION 

OF THE 

STATE OF MICHIGAN 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN 

FARMS 



By E. H. FROTHINGHAM, 

Forest Examiner, Forest Service. 

.JULY 10, 1915. 




LANSING, MICHIGAN 
WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO.. STATE PRINTERS 

1916 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

IN CO-OIMCRA'riON WFI^H 

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN COMMISSION 

OK ^IHK 

STATE OF MICHIGAN 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN 

FARMS 



By Ef'fL^FROTHINGHAM, 

I'ORE.sT Examiner, Forest K^ervick. 

JULY 10, 1915. 



S^^f^. 




LANSIXCj, MICHIGAN 
WYMvOOl' HAI.I.ENBECK CRAWFORD CO.. STATi: I'lilNTKItS 

1010 



s 



■f 



D. of D. 
NOV 21 !916 



N^ 



V 



To the Farmers of Michigan: 

It is alwaj'S a pleasure for the Public Domain Commission to co- 
operate with any of the United States departments in giving to the 
people of this State information which will be of benefit to them. This 
publication entitled "Selling Woodlot Products on Michigan Farms'' 
is the result of such cooperation, and we feel that the data which has 
been so carefully gathered and intelligently compiled by the Forest Ser- 
vice of the United States Department of Agriculture will be of untold 
value to the farmers of ^Michigan, not only in advising them as to how 
best to harvest and dispose of the products of their woodlots, but in stimu- 
lating a greater desire for larger and better woodlots. 

Very respectfully yours, 

JUNIUS E. BEAL, 
ALFEED J. DOHERTY, 
ORAMEL B. FULLER, 
FRED L. KEELER, 
WILLIAM KELLY, 
COLEMAN C. VAUGHAN, 
Members of the Public Domain Commission. 
2 



?>ELLIXG WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS 

CONTENTS 



Page 



'urpose of the bulletin T 

'he woodlot situation in ^licb.igan 7 

'he common woodlot trees 8 

larketing woodlot products 8 

Sizing up the woodlot 9 

Choosing the market 16 

Lumber 17 

Sawlogs 18 

Veneer 19 

Handles 20 

Vehiclej and veliicle parts 21 

Cooperage 22 

Railroad ties 23 

Poles and posts 24 

Small rough products 2.5 

Wood for pulp 26 

Excelsior 26 

Wood for distillation 27 

Firewood 27 

Conducting the sale 28 

Contracting for the sale 30 

Scaling the logs 31 

"Scaling out" defects 33 

Shipping by railroad 33 

Tow to prevent the deterioration of cut woodlot products 38 

Some of the principal uses of the common woodlot trees 39 

directory of Michigan firms which buy wood products "in the rough" 40 

Lppendix 47 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS 

PURPOSE! OF THEi BULLETIN 

Oue of the essentials of successful farming is to know how, when, and 
where to market crops. Farmers are all deeply interested in this; yet 
when it comes to selling- wood products, most of them are at such a 
disadvantage thrcnigh ignorance of markets and methods of estimating 
and selling, that they lose sometimes two-thirds the value of their timber. 
Many Michigan woodlots still contain timber which represents the growth 
of a century. No farmer should let this valuable possession pass from 
him "for a song." 

The advantage to be gained through knowledge of marketing timber 
is best shown by an actual example. An 80-acre farm in south central 
Michigan had on it a 10-acre woodlot containing about 48,000 board feet 
of basswood and about 12,000 feet each of hard maple, soft maple, red 
oak, soft elm, ash, and beech. The trees were overmature, many of them 
were hollow, and the owner knew he ought to "sell them to save them." 
Timber on an adjacent 10 acres had previously been sold for flOO per 
acre, or a total of |1,000. Instead of selling on the lirst bid made, the 
owner, acting on the advice of an expert attached to a nearby forestry 
school, wrote to a number of wood-using firms in ditferent cities, from 
some of whom, after examination of his timber, he secured bids on the 
different species in his woodlot. As a result of his bargaining he received 
stumpage values amounting, in the aggregate, to nearly |2.000. For his 
red oak, bought for quarter-sawing by a firm outside the State, he re- 
ceived |21 per 1,000 board feet. His other trees were purchased by a 
veneer company, the basswood returning $19 per 1.000 board feet, ash 
$16, elm and hard maple |14, soft maple and beech |12. 

Few farmers are so situated as to be able to secure the assistance of 
capable, impartial advisors; and this bulletin is an attempt to supply 
the deficiency by acquainting them with the uses of different kinds of 
woodlot timber, the location of some of the principal Michigan markets, 
and the more important details in the sale of the products. 

THE WOODLOT SITUATION IN MICHIGAN. 

Michigan farms Avhich cut woodlot products in 1910 (43.7 per cent of 
all the farms) sold on an average about $50 worth apiece and consumed 
about the same amount.* The total value for the State was over |7,900,- 
000 (not including maple sugar), or about one-twentieth of the aggregate 
income from all Michigan crops. The total area of Michigan farm wood- 
lots is nearly three million acres, which is 15.5 per cent of the total farm 
area. Woodlots will therefore continue for some time to be important 
sources of income to the State and to the farms on which they exist. 

♦Bureau of Census Reports. 



8 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

In spite of this evident importance to the State, woodlots are being 
cleared at a rate which would threaten their virtual extinction if con- 
tinued for the next half century. In the 30 years between 1880 and 11)10 
the decrease was over 114 million acres, or at a rate of more than 1 
per cent per year, so that while in 1880 the average area of woodland on 
each farm was about 29 acres, in 1010 it was only 11 acres. This process 
of clearing was inevitable and perfectly natural wherever it opened up 
good tillable soils for cultivation. On poorer soils financial necessity 
often compelled farmers to cut their timber. There has, in fact, been 
little or no inducement to hold salable timber or even to i>rotect and 
care for young growth for the uncertain value it might have 40 or 50 
years in the future. 

The only efficient means of stemming the tide of forest destruction 
seems to be organized community or State effoi't directed toward pro- 
moting the private holding of woodlots on poor lands by equitable tax 
laws or to establishing community or State forests by the ])urchase of 
existing woodlots or of land which should be in woods. The State is 
already providing for future forest growth through the holding of lands 
w^hich have reverted for taxes. It is probable that a more general appreci- 
ation of the value of woodlots on poorer soils would go a long way toward 
perpetuating them. The best way of bringing this home to the farmers 
is to give them the information necessary to get the highest returns from 
their salable wood products. 

THE COMMON WOODLOT TREES. 

In general, oaks and pines are the commonest species in woodlots on 
diy, sandy soils. The pines — white, Norway, and jack, — are unim- 
portant or entirely lacking south of an east and west line drawn through 
about the middle of the lower peninsula. The oaks are most important 
south of this line, though, some small species grow abundantly on sandy 
lands to the north of it. On heavier or moister soils throughout the 
State, maples, birches, elms, and basswood, and, in the north, hemlock 
are the species which predominate in the majority of the woodlots. In 
the swam])s, tamarack is found throughout the State, while arborvitae 
(white cedar) and a little black spruce occur in the North. On cut-over 
and burned lands in the North, aspen and sometimes paper birch often 
form dense thickets, usually too small to be of any immediate value, but 
sometimes big enough to supply excelsior stock, box lumber, etc. 

These are the prevailing species, but there are others which, though 
less abundant, may be much more valuable, among them white ash, black 
walnut, butternut, hickory, and (very sparingly in the South) yellow 
poplar. Merchantable trees of these species are becoming very scarce. 
They are eagerly sought out by buyers for special industries; and the 
farmer who owmis good trees may, in prosperous times, expect good 
prices for them, even when at a considerable distance from the point of 
utilization. 

MARKETING WOODLOT PRODUCTS. 

The woodlot owner should not allow valuable trees to deteriorate on 
his hands, but he should fully satisfy himself that the deterioration has 
net ually started before accepting a low bid for the timber. Even if 
siiius of damage are found it should be remembered that timber does not 





tputu. arstto 



mnitt I • 



'MiHii trante 



FARM WOODLOT AREA OFf/' 
MICHIGAN IN I91(XBY COUNTIES, 
ACCORDING TO 
EACH DOT REPRESENTS 



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MOflTCALM • 



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THEI3^CENSUSth',.:.\/..\'. .|« .«. :;.•>•.•. .'icl 
EPRESEN TS ' * *. »l'. 'I* * '* * ' * ' ' * *'**i f^ ' 



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5000 ACRES /X? • • L» • • •••••• 



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SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 9 

''go back" very rapidly except when the process is already far advanced. 
When the signs of decay are nnmistakable, therefore, a postponement 
of the cntting for a year or two can usually be made with safety, so as 
to allow a poor market to '"pick up," or in order to make further in- 
quiries into the manner of disposal. Young, thrifty timber should be 
held as long as possible. It should not be sold unless the money or the 
land is urgently needed, or unless the owner is sure that an exceptional 
price is being offered for it. There is little risk in holding good, sound, 
young or medium-sized timber. It is yearly increasing in amount and 
Value ; and if it is cut and sold too early, a sacrifice is involved. 

Woodlot sales may include the whole or the greater part of the stand, 
or may take only selected trees here and there. In the former case, a 
good market for' each kind of material, including the cordwood, should 
be found. The case mentioned on page 7 illustrates how several dif- 
ferent markets can be found for the different trees in a given woodlot. 
When only certain kinds of material are to be sold from the woodlot 
and the rest of the timber is to be left standing, the owner should take 
care not to injure the woodlot any more than is unavoidable through 
haphazard selection of the trees to be taken out. Sometimes it is even 
best not to permit the removal of all of the salable trees, when to do 
this would leave the stand ragged and would ex])Ose large patches of 
soil to sun and drying winds. Before culling the woodlot, it is a good 
plan for the farmer to consult the State Forester or some other person 
experienced in this work, or to obtain suggestions from one of the many 
publications relating to the care of forests. One such publication is 
U. S. Department of Agriculture Farmers' Bulletin 711, "The Care and 
Improvement of the Woodlot" by C. R. Tillotson, which can be obtained 
free of charge on application to the Forester, Forest Service, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Assuming that the farmer does not own a portable mill and wishes 
to secure the best possible return for his rough products, the steps which 
he will take are (1) to size up the woodlot and determine the kinds, 
quantities, and qualities of the salable trees; (2) to choose the markets 
which, considering prices and costs of shipping, will give the best re- 
turns for the material ; and (3) to arrange for and conduct the sale. 

Sizing up the Woodlot 

Every woodlot owner should have a good general idea of what he has 
in his woodlot, whether he intends to sell it at once or not. In writing 
to dealers for bids or in advertising timber for sale, it is necessary to 
state what the kinds are. and in general the amounts, sizes, and quali- 
ties of each kind. This information should be explicit as to the number 
and size of each form of product, such as logs, poles, piling, cross-ties, 
bolts, cordwood, etc. A general idea of the quality of the product should 
also be given ; this is especially important where the timber is fit for 
veneer, quarter-sawing, or other high grade uses. 

The units in which timber is usually estimated are the board foot, 
the cord, and the piece. It is not hard to tell how much a tree contains 
of the products sold by the piece ; but where logs are to be sold by board 
measure their contents, especially in the standing tree, are more difii- 
cult to estimate. Furthermore, it is hard to tell how much to deduct 
from the contents and quality of logs for hidden defects. If the timber 



10 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

is to be 8ol(l by the bjg', at lixed prices per thousand board feet or other 
unit, 110 very precise estimate is uecessary ; but if it is to be sold "by the 
lot" or by "acreage," the owner should protect himself by making as care- 
ful an estimate as possible. 

A simple and practical method of woodlot stocktaking is given in the 
next few pages of this bulletin. The main steps are as follows : estimate 
the top-end diameters and lengths of all the possible logs which the 
woodlot, or a measured sample of it, contains, recording the sizes and 
numbers separately for each sj^ecies;* add up separately the number 
of logs of each species, each diameter, and each length;* deduct an 
inch or two from the diameter to eliminate the bark thickness (logs 
are always scaled inside the bark) ; and multiply the number of logs in 
each of the totals by the lumber yolume for a log of the same diameter 
and length, to be found in either Table 6 or Table 7. 

While close results in estimating can not be expected without con- 
siderable experience, an untrained observer can, with ordinary care, 
secure figures reasonably close to the actual contents of the stand. In 
«mall woodlots every tree may be sized up separately; in larger ones 
the trees on a known ]>ortion of the tract can be measured, and the vol- 
ume of the whole stand found by niulti])lying the volume of the logs on 
the saiii]>le by the number of times the sample is contained in the whole 
area. This method is, of course, less accurate than the measurement of 
all the trees, and care must be taken that the sample is an average one. 
The bigger the saiii])le the iinu'e accurate the results, especially when 
the stand contains a number of different kinds of trees in mixture; in 
any case, at least a quarter of the stand sluuild l)e actually gone over, 
tree by tree. To be sure of securing an average, it is a good plan to esti- 
mate a number of scattered samjiles in different parts of the tract, using 
care not to ]tlace them where the timber is either heavier or lighter than 
the average. The samples can be either stri])s. squares, or circles of 
known area. The strij) and the circle are usually the most convenient 
forms. A stri]i 4 rods wide and 40 rods long contains an acre; its width 
and length can be paced off, the observer advancing 2 rods and after 
that stopping every 4 rods, estimating each time the trees on the 
imaginary square, four rods on a side, at the center of which lie stands. 
Another convenient sam])le plot is a circle about 20 paces (59 feet) 
from center to circumference, containing a quarter acre. 

As a guide in estimating the top (small-end) diameters of the logs in 
a tree it is well first to measure the diameter of the trunk at about breast- 
height. f Then estimate and deduct the nunil)er of inches taper between 
the breasthigh point and the end of each successive log. It will be a great 
belp in judging the rate of taper of the standing trees if a few down trees 
of different kinds and sizes can be found and measured at regular inter- 
%'als of S or 10 feet along the trunk from the breasthigh point, noting the 
number of inches difference between successive measurements. If there 
are no down ti'ees available for measurement, the farmer must size up 
the taper for himself. 

The taper varies more with the size of the trees than with the species. 
A short, thick tree which will cut only one or two logs may have 4 inches 
of taper in the distance between breastheight and the small end of the 

^Foimg for recording the lo£:s and finding the totals are shown on pp. 12 and 14. 

tBreast heiglit is preferable to stump height because it avoids the pronounced swell at the base of 
most trees. 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 11 

first IG foot log; and the taper of tlie top log may be nearly as great. 
A tall, slender tree may have tiy^ or 3 inches taper between breastlieight 
and the top of the first log, II/2 inches in the next 10 feet, and 2y2 
inches in the third log. Tlie taper is normally greatest in the bottom and 
top logs. 

The best instruments for measuring diameters are a diameter tape or 
a pair of calipers. The diameter tape is a sliort steel tape in a case, 
one side graduated in inches or in tenths of feet, the other in intervals 
such that the exact diameter of any cylindrical object measured can be 
read off directly in inches. A twenty foot diameter ta})e can be obtained 
for approximately i{fl.75 or |2 through a local dealer in hardware or 
surveying instruments. The same local dealer will be able to procure 
tree calipers for from |3.15 to $4.50, depending on the size. This is a 
beam graduated in inches and tenths, with a fixed arm at one end and 
a sliding arm wliicli indicates on the beam the diameter of a tree held 
snugly between the two arms. 

In the absence of a diameter taj>e or calipci's, diameters can be oli- 
iained Avith sufficient accuiacy by taking the girth of the tree with an 
(U'diuary tape, graduated in inches and fractitms, and dividing by 3. 
The results obtained by dividing the girth by 3 will be slightly greater 
than the actual diameters, so that it will be necessary to subtract a small 
amount for trees over 7 inches in diameter. Thus y^ inch should be de- 
ducted for trees between S and 10 inches in diameter; 1 inch for trees 
from 17 to 24 inches; li/o inches for trees from 2 to 3 feet; and 2 
inches for trees of larger size. If the thickness of the trees is fairly regu- 
lar throughout the woodlot, the measurement of a nund)er of tlu^m from 
time to time will train the eye of a close observer so that tlic diameters 
of the rest can be estimated with a|)proximate accuracy. An ordinary 
two foot rule held at arms length against the tree will assist the eye in 
est imating diameters. 

Although the lumber contents of cut logs are measured iitsidc the hark, 
it is usually easier and as accurate, in sizing up standing trees, to 
estimate the diameters oiit-'iidc ilic haric, and then to deduct an inch or 
two for the double thickness of bark when the tallies are added uj) on 
the summary sheet. The bark thickness ca]i be determined, roughly, by 
removing and measuring a few samples fiom about breastlieight on 
standing trees which are to 1»e cut. The thickness should of course be 
doubled before subtracting from the (Uitside bark diameter. 

The majorit}^ of logs are now cut 10 feet long where possible, with a 
few inches extra to allow for injuries l(» the log ends in handling. Where 
10 foot logs can not be obtained because of some defect or crookedness 
of the tree trunk, 14, 12, 10, or even 8 foot logs can often be cut, and 
these should be included in the list, ^yhen 10 feet is tlie standard length, 
S foot logs can be recorded as "half-logs.'' Allowance must be ma<le for 
the stump, which \\ill usvially vary in height fi-oni incites to 2 feet, 
depending on the si/e of the tree. For medium sized tr(>es a good rule 
is to make tlie stump height about equal to its diameter. 

In tallying, the logs should be kept separate by species, by diameter, 
by length, and jireferably by quality. A simjtle and accurate method is 
t(t record on a tally sheet like the one shown the logs in each tree as 
the estimatoi' comes to ii. It is especially desiralde to note the quality 
of the logs when they are tit f(U' veneer, (|uarter-sawiiig. or otiicr liigh- 
3 



12 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



gnule uses. The grading must be au arbitrary one, depending on the 
farmers' judgment and experience. Large, straight, smooth ("surface 
clear") logs which a])pear to be sound can be classed as grade 1; sound 
logs of fair size, with a slight crook, or with a branch or two near the 
end, fall into grade 2; all other salable logs belong to grade 3. The 
gi-ade number 1, 2, or 3, can be ])ut in jiarenthesis in a corner of the 
sp.acc ])r(>\idcd for log lengths on the tally sheet. 

TALLY SHEET FORM 





Dinincter 

hrcast- 

luKh of 

tree. 

Inches. 


First log. 


Second log. 


Third log. 


Fourth log. 


Species. 


LenRth 

and 
grade. 

Feet. 


Diameter 

at small 

end.* 

Inches. 


Length 

and 
grade. 

Feet. 


Diameter 

at small 

end.* 

Inches. 


Length 

and 
grade. 

Feet. 


Diameter 

at small 

end.* 

Inches. 


Length 

and 
grade. 

Feet. 


DiamotiT 

at small 

end.* 

Inches. 


Hard maple 


18 
12 
12 
1.5 
10 

14 

10 
11 
10 

18 
16 
10 
14 


10(3) 
l(i(2) 
1(1(2) 
Kid) 
16(1) 

16(1) 
16(1) 
12(3) 
10(2) 
10(3) 

10(1) 
16(1) 
12(3) 
16(2) 


16 
9 

12 
16 

11 

1(1 

S 
8 
8 

14 

s 
11 


12(3) 
8(3) 

10(3) 
8(2) 

16(1) 

10(2) 
12(2) 


1.5 

8 
S 
11 
13 



8 


















Hard maple 

Hard maple 










12(2) 
16(1) 

8(3) 


9 
10 

8 


12(3) 
12(2) 


8 
8 






Hard maple 

Hard maple 

Hard maple 














14(3) 
12(3) 

16(1) 
16(1) 


8 
8 

12 
12 




















16(3) 


8 






Hard maple 

Hard maple 

Hard maple 

Etc 




' 










16(2) 


8 






































'Either outside or inside bark, as the estimator prefers. It is probably simpler to make the estimate outside bark, deducting 
the double bark thickness when the logs are added up for scaling. The form on page 14, which shows the above logs added and 
scaled liy species, size, and grade, assiunes that the tally was made outside bark, and that 2 inches were deducted for doulile 
bark thickness. 



When the tally is complete for the whole stand, or Ihe measured 
sample of it, the number of logs of each kind, size, and grade must be 
added up; and if, as in the exam])le just given, the diameters of the 
logs were estimated outside the bark, the double bark thickness must 
be deducted. It is usually sufficiently accurate to assume a fixed de- 
duction for bark (say 2 inches, as in the form on page 14), for all species 
and sizes of log, based on the average thickness of bark actually cut from 
ditierent parts of a number of trees." The form on page 14 is a con- 
venient one for adding up the logs according to kind, size, and grade, 
and recording their lumber contents. The logs of each class are read 
oft' from the tally sheet, and recorded (after snl)tracting the double bark 

*This arbitrary deduction may be justified on the ground that the diameters of the lop; ends are 
estimated and not measured, are" expressed in inches and not fractions, and can therefore be regarded 
only as fairly close approximations. 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS OxN MICHIGAN FARMS. 13 

thickness) by dots or short lines in the appropriate space.f The lum- 
ber contents of all the logs of each class can then be easily deiermined 
by (1) linding in Table or 7 the board foot volnnie of a log of the same 
length and diameter inside hark; and (2) multiplying tliis lignre by tlie 
nmnber of logs. The total volume for each class may couveuiently be 
written into the proper space, as shown in the form, and these totals 
may be added across so as to give the total volume in board feet of the 
logs of each species and each grade. The form may be extended to pro- 
vide for any number of species and diameters; it may be simjdified by 
omitting the columns for grades if a graded estimate is not desired. 



tA compact method is to record the first four logs by dots forming the corners of a small square; 
the next four by straight lines completing the square; and the next two by diagonals, thus: 

:: n n mm 

(llog), (4 logs), (6 logs), (Slogs). (9 logs), 10 logs) 



The logs thus grouped by tens can be easily counted. 



14 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



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^ 




CO -r Cl c:. cc' 


o 


^ 




s 
s 

1 s 


5. 
3 

a 






c 








c 












C. 

c 






a 





— ' — " '^^ 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



15 



When the woodlot consists of only two or three species and it is not 
necessary or practicable to grade the logs, a more compact form of 
recording is possible as indicated below, which largely does away with 
the second operation of totaling. Where the owner knows that two or 
more of the species have closely similar values, they may be grouped 
together; but the general proportion of each should be kept in mind, 
since in bargaining it may happen that other prices will be offered than 
those Avhich the owner contemplates. 



Log 
Diameter 
(outside 
bark, 
small end 


Pine and hemlock lo«s 


on 1 average acre 




L e n K t. h i 


n f e e t 




16 : 14 


: 12 : 10 


8 


Inches 
6 


H H a " :®S 
32 :20 


:49 :19 


27 


7 


SBIBIIS'-: : B S S ' 
:44 :31 


:22 :2i 


n 

6 


8 


77 :28 


:bc :{zj 
:17 :9 


O 
8 


9 


50 " :3 


: H O : c: 
: 18 : 7 


5 


10 


:42 :6 


:2 : 




11 


:16 : 


: :5 




12 


23 :7 


•3 : 


1 


etc. 


: : : : 





A rough estimate of the cordwood contents of woodlots can be ob- 
tained by tallying the number of trees of each diameter and dividing by 
the number of trees per cord shown for different diameters in the follow- 
ing table. The table is compiled from existing tables for northern hard- 
wood trees, but will apply roughly to softwoods as well : 



TABLE l.-NUMBER OF TREES TO MAKE A STACKED CORD OF UNPEELED SPLIT AND ROUND WOOD IN 4 
FOOT LENGTHS, 3 INCHES AND OVER IN DIAMETER AT THE MIDDLE.* 



Diameter breasthigh of tree — inches. 


Number 
of trees 
per cord. 


Diameter breasthigh of tree — inches 


Number 
of trees 
per cord. 


3 


66 

40 
24 
20 
15 

11 
S 
6 
5 
. 4 

3.5 
3 

2.5 
2 


17 


1 7 


4 


18 


1 5 


a 


19 


1 3 


6 


20 


1 2 


7 


21 . 


1 


8 


22 


9 


9 


23 


75 


10 


24 . 


6 


11 


25 


5 


12 


26 


4 


13 


27 


37 


14 


28 


34 


15 


29 


32 


16 


30 . . .. 


3 









•Compiled Ijy G. N. Lamb, from various tables for forest grown northern hardwood trees. 



16 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

Choosing the Slarket 

After fiiuliiig unt what tlie woodlol contains, the next thing to do is 
to ascertain for wliat nses each l^ind of material will bring the best 
])rice. An index showing the nses of each species is given on pages r>l)40. 
The farmer shonld loctk np all the local wood nsing indnslries like saw- 
mills, firewood dealers, pnl]» mills, frnit box and l)askct factories, rail- 
roads, etc., and obtain the prices they will ])ay tor the varions kinds of 
lindier he has to sell. It is a good i)lan to impiire of neighbors who ha\(' 
had dealings with, local bnyers. 

It is very often ])Ossibk' to get bt'lter ])i-ices than those olVered by 
local dealers, however. The woodlot owner shonld investigate the avail- 
able markets not only within wagon hanl of his lot bnt also at jioinls 
some distance away; valnable logs can often be shi]t]>e(l 100 nules or 
more with profit. It is easy to secnre i)rices for ditferent ]>ro(lncts by 
writing to all the firms in towns and cities not too far away r.-hich are 
mannfactnring special articles and which seem to offer a good nnirket. 
In snch. letters, the kinds, amonuts, and general qnalities of the timber 
available shonld be stated as clearly as p(jssible, and inqniry shonld be 
made abont the point of delivery, — whether on board cars at the shipping 
])oint or at the destination. In the latter case, the ship]ier pays the 
freight, and this amonnt mnst be dedncted fi'om the ])rice offered in com- 
paring the retnrns to l»e derived with those which local sales wonld yield. 
In most shi]»ments, carload lots are reqnired. AVhen bnyers are sent 
by the firms in rcsjxmso to letters, however, they may accept loss 
amonnts, making np the carload from other farms in the vicinity. It is, 
(»f conrse, ])ossible for two or more farmers to combine and make n]) 
carload lots, sharing the freight charges between them. 

On pages 41 to 4(1 is given a directory of Michigan indnstries which 
bny wood in rongh forms — logs, bolts, billets, ties, posts, ])oles, etc. 
While this list is necessai-ily not qnite np to date, most of the establish- 
ments are ])robably still in the market. For convenience in reference, 
the firms are arranged by towns, and the towns by connties, in alpha- 
betical order for the n]»i)er jteninsnla and for the northern and sonthciti 
parts of the lower peninsnla. This will make it easy for the farmer to 
find ont what firms bny rongh wood in his own and adjacent connties. 
In writing for l)ids he shonld not confine himself to these, bnt shonld 
also aiq)roacli firms mannfactnring specialized articles, like veneei-, 
handles, etc., in any i>art of the State. 

The directory does not inclnde sawmills or wood yards, since it is 
assnmed that the farmer is already acqnainted with snch of these estab- 
lishments as are in his vicinity. It is rarely practicable to ship any 
great distance for these nses. In the list, the kind of i^rodnct s<dd 
j)recedes the name of the company or bnyer; wherever possible the species 
dealt in are specified. 

Prices and specifications for different nses can not be given to good 
advantage l)ecanse they vary constantly. A general idea of the nsnal 
forms and grades reqnired and of tlie relative valnes of the difi'erent 
sjtecies can, however, be given, and these will be nsefnl in determining 
what firms to write to. It shonld l)e borne in mind that, nnless other- 
wise specified, prices are for nmterials delivered f. o. b. mill ; in other 
words, the seller bears the freight charges. For some rongh ])rodncts, 
like pnlp wood, excelsior w^ood, ties, etc., there are standard prices i)er 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 17 

cord, per tliousaud board feet, etc. This is less true of log sales for 
veneer and other uses; bnyers usually secure these at lowest prices, and 
it is best to obtain bids from a number of different sources. As a rule, 
the larger the size of a sound, high-grade log, the higher the price it 
will bring. 

lAimher. 

Among lumber dealers there is a strong prejudice against farm lum- 
ber, due to the fact that it is commonly poorly manufactured and poorly 
graded as compared with the lumber cut in the larger stationary saw- 
mills. Most of the farm lumber is sawed in small portable mills with 
circular saws, and the work is paid for at so much a tliousand l)()ard 
feet — usually $3.50 or -f4. It is of course to the advantage of the sawyer 
to turn out as many thousand feet a day as the capacity of his mill will 
permit. Getting the best lumber out of a log requires considerable judg- 
ment and necessitates a frequent turning of the log, which materially 
reduces the daily output. It is probable that a good sa■s^^'er could, by 
taking care as to grades, save as much as |10 per day over what ordinary 
portable mill lumber is worth. Most of the larger plants which use lum- 
ber, therefore, get it from the big sawmills or from wholesalers who are 
able to supply well manufactured stock of specified grades in the amounts 
and at the times required. 

There are many establishments in the State which do, however, buy 
lumber from farmers, and even fairly high grade lumber. Usually this 
lumber is bought "log run" (No. 2 common and better) or No. 1 common 
and better. Woodworking companies usually buy sawed lumber on de- 
livery. Local lumber yards often prefer to buy standing timber "by 
the lot" or by '^acreage," either hauling the logs to a mill in town or 
sawing them out on the spot in a portable mill. In such deals there 
are apt to be no standard grade values, the lumber being purchased at 
prices reached in bargaining. 

Lumber is put to a great many different uses, each having different 
requirements which can not be stated to advantage in a bulletin of this 
size. It is necessary, however, to be thoroughly aware of such require- 
ments, so that as much as possible of the material can be sawed to fit 
them, and as little as possible rejected at the yard after being hauled. 
This applies both to grade and to size. Some plants want 1-inch lumber, 
others thicker material. Plants which require lumber only for such 
l)urposes as furniture, finish, etc., usually require only the higher grades. 
It is usually best, when possible, either to sell such companies in 
the log — observing, of course, the points regarding competitive bargain- 
ing already mentioned — or to haul the logs to some established mill 
accustomed to producing high grade lumber, and have them sawed out 
there. Where lower grades are purchased, as for example No. 2 com- 
mon and better, a good portable mill, operated by an experienced sawyer, 
may be secured, and the cull lumber rigidly graded out. By grading 
rigidly the farmer may avoid loss through the rejection of culls at Ihe 
point of delivery. 

Much high grade hunber undoubtedly goes into the constructinn (if 
farm buildings. The farmer should look on this as a disiinct loss until 
he has proved to his own satisfaction that he could not get betier \ahi(' 
from the logs or lumber either from local or from distant buvers. It is 



18 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



usual! V a distiuel iiiisiiso of good iiialerial to ])Ht hard woods into scant- 
lings, rafters, eU'. Softwoorls are nmeli i»referablo for these purposes, 
and as a rule (udy the lower grades are necessary, which, if the wood- 
lot itself does not supply enough, can almost always be bought at low 
])rices from local dealers. Culls left in ])ortable mill work can, of course, 
be used to advanlage for such ]>uri)oses, especially when of hemlock, 
}»iue, or other s(»ftwo(»(l. Some small mill o]>erat()rs make a business 
of Inlying uji farm logs and selling the culls to farmers for about -flT 
per thousand feet. 

The following ligures, gathered at random from a few firms in the 
southern |>ai-t of the State, show pr-ices jiaid in 1014 for different species 
and giades of farm hnnber delivered at the company's yards: 



TABLE 2.-PRICES PAm FOR FARM LUMBER BY A FEW FHiMS IN SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN, 1914. 



Oak, red and white, Ists and 2nds, 1 inch himber 

Oak, red and white. No. 1 common, 1 inch lumber 

Oak, red and wliitc. No. 2 common, 1 inch lumber 

Oak, red and white. No. 1 common and better, 1 inch lumber. 



(Ij inch and IJ inch oak lumber, Ists and 2uds, $2 or S3 more). 



Oak, white, Ists and 2nds, 3-.3j inch plank. . 
Oak, white, No. 1 common, 3-35 'ri'^h plank. 
Elm, rock, Ists and 2nds, 3-3| inch plank. . . 
Elm, rock. No. 1 common, 3-3^ inch plank. . 
Elm, soft, Ists and 2nds, 3-3 J inch plank. . . 



Elm, soft. No. 2 common, 2 inch plank 

Elm. soft. No. 2 common and better, 1 inch hunber. 

Maple, hard, Ists and 2nds, 4 inch plank 

Maple, hard, Ists and 2nds, 3-3| inch plank 

Maple, hard, No. 1 common, 3-3j inch plank 



Maple, hard. No. 2 common and better, 4 inch plank . . 

Maple, hard. No. 2 common, 2 inch plank 

Maple, hard, No. 2 common and better, 1 inch lumber. 

Maple, soft, Ists and 2nds, 3-3j inch plank 

Maple, soft. No. 1 common, S-SJ inch plank 



Maple, soft. No. 2 common and better, 1 inch lumber. 
Basswood, No. 2 common and better, 1 inch lumber. . 

Beech, No. 2 common and better, 1 inch lumber 

Black ash. No. 2 common and better, 1 inch lumber. . 
White pine. No. 2 common and better, 1 inch lumber. 
Poplar, No. 2 common and better, 1 inch lumber 



.137-39 



32 
20 
22 
2.5 
20 

23 

25-26 

10 

23 



Hii'wlogs 

Selling logs by the thousand board feet is a very desirable method, 
since by it may be avoided the eri-ors usually incident to estimating and 
the uncertainties introduced in the sawing o]»eralion. The prices ])aid 
f(n" logs of a given species dejieml on the size and ([uality of the logs, 
and are usually fixed by bargain. The farmer should i)rotect himself 
by finding out what ])rices have been obtained by neighbors who have 
sold logs, and also by corres]>ond(Mice ov intcn-view with dealers in logs 
for other ])urposes than lumber, such as veneer, handles, etc. 

As a rule, there are no standard grades of logs, but the price is fixe<l 
on inspection by the ])urchaser. If jiossible, this should be done before 
delivery. Otherwise the seller is at the buyer's mercy. 

The best prices are those ]taid for select walnut logs, oak and syca- 
more for quarter-sawing, cherry, etc. A moderate market has existed 
in the southern part of the State for exjtort logs of hard maple, rock 
elm, oak, etc.; but this market is \ery limited at the ]»resent time. 
IVIaple logs for ex]>ort have been bought at about .f.")!") ]»(m- thousand board 
feet, f. o. b. shii>]»ing |>oint; especially line maple and elm logs brought 



*«*«iaa8g&«^ 







SELLING WOODLOT I'ROUUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



19 



as lii^h as |40 per thousand. The minimnm size of such Jogs is 24 
inches inside bark at the small end; and the requirements are about the 
same as for veneer logs — they must be sound and surface clear, but a 
slight crook is allowed. 

In the southern part of the State, high grade hard ma])le logs, 20 inches 
and more in diameter, often bring from .|23 to |2G, delivered at the mill. 
In 1014, some buyers paid for the common species, such as hard and 
soft maple, soft elm, and basswood, a fixed price of $20 per thousand 
Ixtard feet, delivered, for good logs, and |10 for poor logs. One such 
company paid from |20 to |25 per thousand for good white ash logs. 
Where the farmer has ash, oak, walnut, cherry, basswood, or especially 
good logs of hard maple and elm, it is decidedly advisable to consider 
the special uses for which such logs might be suitable before selling to 
sawmills. Aeneer and handle companies are often able to pay con- 
siderably more for them than sawmills will, — often enough to make 
shijunent profitable. There are certain defects which are apt to be 
overlooked and which unfit apparently good logs for the most paying use. 
White oak, for example, is apt to be wormy in some parts of the State, 
which spoils it for quarter sawing. Wormy logs can often be sold to 
advantage to vehicle manufacturers for wagon rims. 



Veneer 

Veneer logs must be sound, so that they can be held firmly at the ends 
in the machines. They must be at least 10 inches in diameter inside 
Itark at the small end ; and some companies specify minimum diameters 
of 12 or 14 inches. Often two grades are specified: No. 1 logs, which 
must be surface clear, straight, and with not over two knots; and No. 
2 logs, including all usable logs that fall below these specifications. In 
dealing Avitli veneer companies at a distance the farmer should take 
pains to find out just what the minimum requirements are for logs of 
1 lie second grade; otherwise he will be in danger of having his lower 
grade logs graded out and refused at the destination, which would in- 
volve either the complete loss of the logs or a payment of shipping 
charges in returning them. 

Standard log lengths, wiih a minimum of 8 feet, are usually required. 

Average prices paid for veneer logs by Michigan buyers in 1014 were 
as follows : 

TABLK 3.-VENEER LOG PRICEP PER inoo BOARD FEET, F. 0. B. MILL, I014-MICHIGAN. 







Diameter at small end, inside 


hark. 




Species. 


All sizes 
10 to 14 
inches 
and up. 


17 inches 
and under. 


18 to 24 
inches. 


25 to 28 
inches. 


29 to 34 
inches. 


35 inches 
and up. 




$1S .SO 
3.5 00 
24 66 
20 80 












Yellow poplar 












Birch 












Elm 














.$20 00 
24 2.5 


$21 80 

2.5 25 
17 50 


§21 80 

29 .50 
19 50 


$22 90 

32 75 
25 50 


$''3 45 


White oak 




3fi 75 


Red oak 




29 50 




14 00 

19 20 

20 00 
135 00 






Ash 












Cherry 





































20 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



TIk-sc were ;ivei;i,u(' pi'iees. Sometimes dealers in veneer logs reeeive 
;is liii;li as |4r» or |r)5, deiieiuliiig on size and qnality, for mixed oak 
logs, bnt the dealers rarely pay more than the above ])riees for their 
material. Farmers favorably sitnated may be able to command better 
prices for large, sonnd, synnnetrieal logs. The veneer industry re- 
(Uiires the highest class of logs and on an average pays a bettei* y)v\cG 
for such logs than other industries. An exception is high grade oak 
and sycamore logs for (piarter-sawing, which may bring even higher 
pi-ices. 

Nearly all the nati\-e sjiecies are nsed for veneer. Veneer frcmi snch 
woods as basswood and elm is nsed chielly for iho manufacture of 
l>oxes. crates, and other jtackages. TIh^ furniture and linisliing indus- 
tries pay highei' |)rices and use the high-class tinishing woods, such as 
oak, walnut, and cherry. Several comiianies make both kinds (d' veneer. 

il fiiidlcs 

The factories manufacturing wooden handlers of various kinds are one 
<d' the very best miirkets f(U' farm hardwoods. Hickory and ash bring 
llie highest ]uices, but ma[tle ami beech furnish the greatest amount of 
raw nmterial. In 1!)11, according to rejtorls received from ^Michigan 
handle manufacturers l»y the Forest Sei\ice, the following prices were 
paid f(U- the rough nmterials (logs, l)olls, and s])]it billets). The ])ro- 
portion ^^hich each species formed of the tot;il cut is also sliown: 



TARLl'; 4.-SPFX'IKS USED FOH HANM'IJOS AND THFJK I'HICl'S IN 1011. 







Sp,. 


■ic-s used !( 


rh;iti,llcs. 


PiTC 

oft. 
coiisuni 

1 

t 


cnt. 
tal 
itioii. 


VaUir of 

raw material, 

per thoTisand 

boanl feet. 




r,<.) 

14 

S 

3 
1 


S9-3.5 




.S^lf) 




20-.')n 


Ash ' - 


2.v4n 












9-13 


Oak .... 










lf)-3.5 


Kim 


10-35 


White birch 


S 




l.i-115 







ITndoubtedly other species, like basswood, cherry, ai)plewood, etc., 
were nsed in small amounts, but these w(M'e not listed by the firms which 
reported. 

The form of raw material required by establishments mannfactnring 
diH'erent kinds of handles naturally differs a great deal. TTiekory, for 
examide, goes into short and medium length handles, snch as axe, pick, 
and hammer handles; ash is used for longer handles requiring greater 
stilfness, such as those for forks, hoes, and rakes. Broom handles take 
a large ])art of the maple and beech logs. Small tool handles are made 
of ;i \ariety of woods, some of them requiring s]>ecial kinds; plane 
liiMidlcs. toi' exam]de, are made very largely of apjdewood. Where 
strength is a requisite, second-growth Avood is often specified. Thus, in 
the manufacture of cant hooks and peaveys. second-growth maple and 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 21 

rock elm are usnallj required, and the billets for the handles are, as a 
rule, split in order that no cross-grain may be left in them. Some beech 
is also used in making logging tools. 

Handle companies bny very largely in the log or bolt tlirough buyers 
who get the material from farmers. Firms using hickory have to go to 
other States for the bulk of their raw material, since there is compara- 
tively little good hickory timber left in Michigan. Farmers owning good 
young stands containing considerable hickory can well atford to hold 
them and care for them in view of the steadily decreasing suj^ply and 
increasing demand. The same is true of thrifty, rapidly growing, young 
ash timber. For fork and hoe handles, the specifications often designate 
only second-growth ash. The requirements are high, and as a rule the 
smallest sizes taken are: length 4 feet and a few inches, diameter (• 
inches at the small end. The logs must be nearly straight, and with no 
knots or branches showing on the surface. 

Manufacturers of scythe snaths use elm and white ash, with some 
beech and maple for tholes. The elm is mostly rock elm, with some 
tough soft elm. The log requirements of one company Avere : diameter 
(small end) 12 to 30 inches, length 5i/£. feet and up. logs to be straight 
and smooth. This comi)any paid a good price for farm timber, on the 
stump, Avith the understanding that it must be good to l)e accepted. 
Toj) logs of inferior grade were left in the woods. 

Vehicles and vehicle imrts 

A^ehicle manufacturers draw the greater part of their sui>j»lies from 
the general lumber market: much of it — es])ecial1y hickory and white 
oak — is supplied by southern jobbers in roughly shaped sawed products 
and split billets. Nevertheless, some vehicle makers draw largely from 
farm woodlots, and when this is the case it usually constitutes One of 
the desirable markets for the farmer to investigate. Most of the ma- 
terial tlius bought, however, is in the form of rough planks from portable 
mills. 

Some of the uses to which the various s]>ecies are i)nt in veliicle mak- 
ing ai-e as follows : 

Rock elm — sleigh runners, sled l)eams. sled poles, evencrs. single-trees, 
brake blocks, etc. 

Soft elm — wagon box bottom cleats, etc. 

Hard maple — wagon axles, plank for wagon ami sled Ixnlies and 
beams, bolsters. 

Soft maple — Avagon box bottom cleats, etc. 

Oaks — gearings, sills, bed pieces. 

White oak — reaches, tongues, etc. 

Birch — hubs. 

Rasswood — Avagon box boards. 

White ash — wagon poles and bodies. 

Shagbark hickory — axles, single trees. 

Second-growth hickory — spokes. 

Whitewood (yellow poplar) — wagon bodies. 

White pine — wagon box bottoms. 

Norway pine — wagon box bottoms. 



22 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

The grades demauded vary considerably, some fimis taking No. o com- 
mon and better, others only clear Inmber, As a rule, planks are speci- 
tied, bnt some l-iucli Inmber is also taken. 

The proi)ortionate amounts taken by companies which used local 
rough products in 11)11, and the prices paid for them are as follows, for 
a few of the native species : 

TABLE 5— PRINCIPAL MICHIGAN WOODS USED IN VEHICLE MAKING AND THEIR PRICES, 1911. 



Species. 




Value per thousand 
board feet. 



Maple. . . . 

Oak 

Ash, white. 
Ehn, rock. 
Hornbeam . 
White pine 



$12 (logs) 
13-30 (logs and plank) 
2.5-30 (logs) 
30 (plank) 
30 (logs) 
30 (plank) 



These j»rices are, of course, obsolete, and are only inserted to give a 
general idea of the values of the species by reference to the lists given on 
other pages of this bulletin. 

Vehicle manufacture affords a good market for hornbeam, which how- 
ever, is a small tree not commonly found of sufficient size to produce 
the 7 inch, 16 foot logs required. It is used for tongues for the ''big 
wheels" used in logging in tlie northern part of the State and elsewhere. 
Blue beech (sometimes called hop hornbeam or water beech) is occasion- 
ally l)ought, when of sufficient size, for making spokes, felloes, and other 
parts of heavy wagons. The common beech is also used for felloes. 

Cooperage 

Slack barrel cooj)erage offers a much larger market for Michigan wood- 
lot trees than tight barrel cooperage. Many different s])ecies are used 
for the forniei', but the latter takes only white oak, both for staves and 
headings. The following si>ecifications ]uiblished by a firm outside the 
State will serve to show what the requirements are, in general, for 
tight barrel stave and heading bolts. 

SPECaFICATIONS FOR WHITE OAK STAVE BOLTS. 

All stave bolts to show a 3-inch heart face. 

White oak stave bolts to be made full 30 inches long, not over inches 
from heart to sap, and not under 41/0 inches from heart to sap; to be 
made from sound green trees, not under IS inches in diameter. Timber 
must be straight and all defects worked out. Knot, seed and worm holes, 
windshakes, splits, dead timber, pecks, and short bolts will be classed as 
culls. Bolts to be ricked close. All bolts must be barked. 



SPECIFICATIONS FOR WHITE OAK HEADING BOLTS. 

Bolts shall be full 22 inches long, and measure 10 inches from heart 
edge to outside of sap ; to be not less than 10 inclu's across sap side. Bolts 
shall be ricked close. Knots, seed holes, wind shakes, splits, dead timber, 




Getting out barrel stave stock. Method of splitting the tree sections into "qiiartcnMl ' bolts. 

















• — *-,. 



Y 



-^'*\r'Uy .M 



' "^-•^^^1 



Barrel stave stock. Bolts i)ileil in woods, ready for liauliiiK to the mill. 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 23 

pecks, and short bolls will be classed as culls. Bolts with five to teu 
straight worm holes will be accepted. 

For slack barrel cooperage the specifications are similar, but not so 
severe. For example, the stave bolts do not have to be quartered, as they 
do for tight barrel cooiierage, for which the staves must be straight 
grained. Cross grained or twisted grained bolts are acceptable for slack 
stave and heading manufacture, unless the defect is sui'Hcient to weaken 
the product materially. Bolls contaiuing sound knots, bird pecks, sap 
stain, and other minor defects, which Avould cause their rejection for 
tight barrel staves and headings, are accepted for slack cooperage. 

Slack cooperage establishmenls turn out large quantities of lime, 
cement, apple, potato, and other fruit and vegetable barrels, butter tubs, 
etc. In order of the amounts used the species made into staves in 1912* 
were pine, beech, elm, maple, birch, basswood, spruce, ash, oak, cotton- 
wood, tamarack, hemlock, and balsam fir. The species used for heading, 
also in order of amounts used, were pine, beech, basswood, ma])le, cotton- 
wood, elm, ash, birch, oak, hemlock, chestnut, sycamore. For hoo])S, the 
species used were elm (!)5 per cent), beech, ash, oak, nuiple, and bass- 
wood. Head linings — thin strips used to hold the heading in place — 
were mostly of elm, rock elm being preferred. 

Railroad Ties 

The demand for ties fluctuates considerably, but there are usually 
standard prices offered which are much the same for the different roads. 
Many different si)ecies are used, including white oak, walnut, and cherry. 
For these valuable species better prices can ordinarily be obtained for 
some other use; but when the logs are knotty and crooked no other 
use may be possible. The hearts of logs, which contain the lower grades 
of lumber, can often be utilized for this purpose, although it is question- 
able whether the value would not be greater in low grade lumber than 
in ties. 

Regular No. 1 ties are 8 feet long, 8 inches wide, and 6 inches thick. 
The ties used on the Lake Shore Railroad are SVo feet long, 9 inches 
wide, and 7 inches thick. Switch ties are 7 by 9 inches in end dimensions 
and of different lengths. The requirements of the company and the 
prices paid should be ascertained before a sale is made or the timber is 
cut. The best prices are those paid for white oak ties, which are used 
by the railroad without preservative treatment, and ordinarily bring 
from 55 to 60 cents apiece when cut to standard specifications and de- 
livered along the right-of-way. "Treatment ties" are mostly of beech, 
birch, hard maple, and tamarack. Before using they are treated with 
a wood preservative. No. 1 treatment ties, hardwood, brought in 1914 
about 48 cents apiece; No. 2 ties, hardwood and tamarack, for use on 
side tracks, brought about 38 cents. 

Quantities of white cedar ties are bought by railroads in the northern 
part of the State. The Northwestern Cedarmen's Association specifica- 
tions for 1912 require that "a standard tie shall be 0-inch face and wider, 
12 inches from small end, G inches thick and 8 feet long, sawed ends. Ties 
made different from these specifications shall be regarded as special 
contracts." 



*"Wood-using Industries of Michigan," by Hii Maxwell; 1912. Published by the State of Michigan 
In cooperation with the Forest Service. 



24 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

Ties are either sawed or hewed. Hewing- is wasteful, since a good 
(leal of the best wood in the log, suitable for lumber, is elii|)])ed otT. 
the amount of Avaste being greater, of course, with large than with 
small logs. Furthermore, tie hewing is a difficult job for an untrained 
axeman, and it is doulttful if farmers not alieady exi)erienced would be 
wise in attempting it. Before deciding to have his logs sawed into 
ties the farmer should satisfy himself that the value in lies is at least 
as great as that in lumber. A good deal depends on the (pialitv of t!ie 
sawing. Logs of desirable species, well sawed into giaded lumber, will 
undoubtedly bring better prices than if sawed into ties, although the 
log hearts may in some cases have a higher value as ties than as low 
grade lumber. F(U' less desirable hunber sjx'cies such as beech, on the 
other hand, ties at 4S cents ai)iece may afford the best possible u>^g. 

Poles (Hid Posts {white cedar) 

Of the native trees, while cedar (arborvi(ae) is the only one used ex- 
tensively for jioles. This is a common swamjt tree iu the northern part 
of the State. It cond)ines the (pialitics of duialdlity, lightness, strength, 
and form, which are requisites of ]K)les and i)osts. Fall and winter, 
wlien the swamps are frozen up, are the best seasons in which to cut 
cedar. The stum]>s should be cut high enough to avoid any pronounced 
(rook. Peeling is most easily done in the s^n'ing, but it is better to do it 
in the winter to facilitate drying. Poles cut and peeled during the late 
fall and winter should be laid in a single layer on a ]iair of skids large 
enough to keep them well otT the ground. P)y the first of May a large 
l)art of the moisture will have dried out, and the weight of the ]>oles 
thus considerably reduced. The reduction in freight weight will more 
than equal the expense of hol<ling, and in addition the ])oles will gain 
in strength and durability. S])ring and early summer otTer the best con- 
ditions for maximum seasoning in the shortest time, liut checking dur- 
ing seasoning is greatest in poles cut during these seasons. It does not 
materially atfect the strength of the poles, however, and can largely 
be |)revented in the ways mentioned on ]»age :*>S. 

The standard specifications of the Northwestern Cedainien's Associa- 
tion for 1012 may lie summarized as follows: 

All ])OSts and poles must be cut from live tim1)er and peeled, and 
must be reasonably sound. In posts, ''pipe rot" ami other rot defects 
that do not impair the strength for use in fences are allowed. In large 
]»oles a certain amount of butt rot is allowed, not exceeding 10 per cent 
of the area of the butt, ])rovided it does not plainly im]>air the strength 
of the pole above ground. The tops of jjoles must be reasonably sound. 

Three classes of materials are recognized: "posts,'' 7 and .'*> feet buig; 
"■large posts and small ]ioles," from 10 to 20 feet long by 4 or 5 inches 
to]) diameter; and "standard telegraph, telephone, and electric poles," 
25 feet or longer, by 4 inches or more in top diameter. Some latitude 
is allowed in the size sjiecifications: ])osts may l)e 2 inches less in 
length, and, if seasoned, 14 inch less in dianuMer; ])oles may be Yj inch 
short for each 5 feet in length, and G inches short for any length greater 
than 20 feet; and the top diameters of seasoned ])oles may be slightly 
less than s]iecified — V^. inch less for 4 and 5 inch poles, % inch for (> 
inch poles, and 1/10 inch for 7 inch ])oles. No such latitude in diameter 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 2.5 

is allowed, however, for green, fresli-ciit, or water-soaked material wbicli 
iniLst c(»ine up to, or exceed, the full diameter specifications. 

'"Sweep" or crook, one way. is allowed, but must not exceed 4 inches 
for posts and for poles np to 10 feet long. For 18 and 20 foot poles a 
4 inch crook, one way, is allowed, and it may be measured from a point 
4 feet from the butt. For larger poles, a one way crook of 1 inch for 
every 5 feet in length is allowed, and it may be measured from a point (> 
feet from the butt. The crook is measured by tightfy stretching a tape 
line from top to bottom or other specified point (4 or G feet from the 
butt) on the post or ]»(»le, on the side where the sweep is greatest, and 
then measuring the distance, at the point where it is greatest, between 
the tape and the pole. 

Foles must be reasonably sound and Avell proportioned for I heir length. 
Large, sound knots are allowed, if trimmed smooth. "Wind twist" is 
no defect unless very unsightly and exaggerated. 

Prices of cedar poles and posts vary, and should be learned im- 
mediately before the sale. 

Practically all the Michigan sjtecies are used for posts, the values of 
the dilferent kinds depending on durability. Next to cedar, white 
oak is probably the most durable of the more common species. Where 
obtainable, black locust makes extremely durable posts; and black wal- 
nut, also, is a good post tree. But since these species are usually of 
much greater value for other uses, it is a mistake to use them for posts 
except as a means of utilizing rough or small material good for nothing 
else except fuel. The greatest consumption of posts cut from woodlots 
is on the farms themsehes. Considered as a source of posts alone, a 
small, thrifty woodlot oflen proNcs a valuable adjunct to the farm. 

SiiKill roiif/Ji products 

In the northern jiart of Michigan the industries which draw their 
sup})lies wholly or ]iartly from faim woodlots are much less numerous 
and less specialized than in the southern part of the State. The prices 
are lower, since the su]»i>ly is greater, the demand less, and the length 
of railroad haul to the consumer so great as, in many cnses, to imj^ose 
prohibitive freight cliavgcs. The i>roducts used are apt to be in the form 
of relatively short bolts, llumgl! considerable quantities of logs are also 
taken. Among the industries which take quantities of rougii products 
otherwise of small value are pulp mills, excelsior factories, wood- 
distillation plants, and lime kilns. The market is not, of course, limited 
to the northern part of the State. With the ])ossible excei)tion of wood 
distillation, these industries are represented also by firms in central or 
southern Michigan. One of the features of these inarkets is that they 
alford a means of disjiosing not only of small trees but also of large, 
straight, sound branches of big trees cut for other purposes. This is 
especially the case with hardwood trees, whose tops often afi'ord large 
([uantities of cordwood, salable for fuel and distillation, and sonfe- 
times for excelsior and pulpwood. 

The importance of these markets to woodlot owners in northern 
.\[ichigan lies in the fact that they present a source of income during 
the period in which the lands are being cleared and put on a productive 
basis; a period often of great financial hardship. Even when the farmer 
can get only the equivalent of day wages for his products these markets 



26 SELLING WOODLOT TRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

are distiuctly ii.seful ; aud siuce wood can be cul often to better advantage 
in the winter than in the snmmer. a means of securing an income dur- 
ing the unproductive season aud at the same time clearing the productive 
areas for cropping is presented. When the earlv struggle of clearing is 
over, liowever, the woodlot assumes the same importance to the farm 
that it has farther south, — for shelter from hot and cold winds, supply 
of fuel, posts, etc., for the farm, and eventually as the source of a re- 
current income from the sale of the products to specialized industries 
which may spring up in the vicinity or within a profitable shipj)ing 
distance. 

Wood for pulp. — Industries reporting the manufacture of Avood pulp 
in Michigan have in the past specified only softwoods — spruce, balsam, 
hemlock, white pine, jack pine, tamarack, — to which may be added a 
little "])oplar" or aspen. There is a likelihood that certain other hard- 
woods besides aspen will be used in the near future, as is now being 
done in many other States. Pulpwood dealers buy either unsplit bolts, 
by the cord, or logs, by the thousand board feet or cord. The wood is 
taken either peeled or unpeeled, some companies specifying one or the 
other, but many of them taking both at a difference of a dollar a cord in 
favor of peeled material. Bolts are bought in 4-foot lengths, with diam- 
eters at the small end of 4, 5, or G inches. The cord is the standard cord 
of 128 cubic feet — a stack 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high, with 
usually 3 or 4 extra inches in height to allow for settling. Logs may be 
8 or 16 feet long. 

Spruce is the most valuable of the pul])woods, but the amount of 
spruce in Michigan is so small that it is d(»ubtl"ul whether it will figure 
to any extent in woodlot sales. At uortheni points prices of from |5 
to -fO.hO per cord f. o. b. shipping point were offered for unpeeled spruce 
bolts in 1912, while spruce delivered at Detroit brought |!).85 per cord. 
Hemlock pulpwood sold for |3.5U rough and 14.50 peeled, l)a]sam for |4 
or |5 rough, tamarack for from 13.25 to .f4, aud white pine for about 
13.25 per cord. 

Excelsior. — Excelsior manufacturers buy chiefly basswood and aspen, 
or poplar. Some spruce, balsam, "whitewood" (yellow poplar), wilhnv, 
and Balm of Gilead, is also bought, and often a little tamarack and 
birch is accepted, although these are inferior s])ecies for the purpose 
and are not wanted in any amount. The ])referred species is basswood, 
which comprises about half the wood used for excelsior. For the northern 
farmer, however, it is in reference to asjieu that the excelsior market is 
most important. Asi)en {"]»oi)ple" or ''poplar") is a small tree which 
has sprung up in great quantities over cut and burned areas in the north. 
Twenty-five or thirty years after a fire the asjien is about large enough 
for excelsior bolts, although much more can be cut from stands 10 or 
15 years older. When farm lands contain stands of small, thrifty as])eii 
not yet big enough for bolts, it is decidedly worth while to hold them 
for the comparatively short period necessary to give the trees value. 

Excelsior wood is bought in bolts 37 or 55 inches long, either peeled or 
unpeeled. Specifications usually require the bark to be removed "un- 
less otherwise agreed in writing." Bolts from 4 to 8 inches in diameter 
are taken uus]>lit; from 8 to 12 inches in diameter they should be split 
in Iwo; aud when over 12 inches they should be split to the heart into 
]>ieces <; lo 8 inches wide on ihe bark side. I'^nither requirements are 






" 1 -t 



■t. 






> ■ 


■ •# 




^^- 


l-li&.?- 


s> 


^^^: ^' ^ 






15 



..V - ■ . I 



f,-':^-' 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 27 

that the bolts be ''out from live timber, free from giiarls, doze, rot, and 
large knotss.. . .Bolts should be ])i]ed up in rauks with a space of about 
two feet between piles and on poles to keep them up from the ground 
until they are seasoned and ready to ship. All culls and bolts under 4 
inches in diameter will be thrown out."* 

I'rices paid for 37 inch excelsior bolts in 1914, delivered to factories in 
Grand Eapids, were about as follows: 

Bass wood (peeled), per cord |r)..50-|0.00 

Aspen (peeled) , per cord 5.00 

Aspen (unpeeled) , per cord 4.00 

At Grand Rapids there is a limited marketf for BG-iuch bolts of soft 
elm, basswood, and soft maple for the manufacture of fiber ''biiuler," to 
be used in place of hair in plaster block making. These bolts must be 
between 8 and 36 inches in diameter, with solid centers to take the dogs 
of the lathe; pieces with ''dozy" centers are culled out and rejected. 
The bolts may be limby, if the limbs are trimmed flush with the bark, 
but they must be straight and the ends must be square. Double heart 
is no defect. The bolts are bought from farmers or jobbers; and in 1914 
the prices offered, delivered at the factory, were fO when the bolts 
were mainly soft elm, and from |5 to 15.50 when mainly basswood 
and soft maple. 

Wood for distillation. — Hardwood distillation for the manufacture 
of charcoal, wood alcohol, and acetates consumes a large amount of cord- 
wood of maple, beech, and birch, and offers a means of disposing of the 
top wood, small trees, and low grade logs left after disposing of the 
more valuable products. This material is taken with the bark on in 
lengths of 4 feet or 50 inches, and to minimum diameters of usually 3 
or 4 inches. The price paid ])er standard cord of distil]ati(m wood de- 
livered at the factory is in the neighborhood of |3 or |4. Most of 
the companies get their material largely from the cutover areas of the 
big lumber companies, and some of them require that the wood shall be 
"body-wood," with only a small mixture of branches. Pieces over 6 
inches in diameter must be split in a manner generally similar to that 
described under "Excelsior." 

Firewood. — Probably no other form of woodlot material has brought 
such large aggregate returns as firewood ; and yet this is, in the majority 
of cases, the least paying use to which good fog timber can be put. It 
offers, however, practically the only means of disposing of branch and 
top wood, defective logs and slabs, of some species throughout the State 
and of all species in some parts of the State. 

The best fuel wood is hickory; high prices are paid for it, but its 
promise for much more exacting and remunerative uses is so great that 
the farmer who has it in his woodlot should hesitate to sell for firewood 
any but the lowest grade timber and the refuse left in logging. This is 
also true of other woods, such as ash, oak, walnut, cherry, basswood, 
rock elm, and even thrifty second-growth hard maple, yellow birch, and 
soft elm. Beech is generally less valuable than most of the other species 
for many uses, and second growth and defective beech trees can often 
be cut from a woodlot and sold- to advantage as cordwood. This 
affords a means of improving overstocked woodlots by thinning out the 
trees and giving the most desirable of them more light and growing 

Tfj^'" P\'"t®*i specifications furnished by the Excelsior Wrapper Co., Grand Rapicia, Mich, 
tlhe Alabastine Co., Grand Rapids; associated with the Michigan Gypsum Co. 

5 



28 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

space. Thinnings should not, however, be made so heavy as to admit a 
great deal of light into the woodlot, except when the soil is plentifully 
stocked with young trees which will shade the ground.* 

In selling fuel wood there are two units, both called "cords," which 
are apt to be confused, with danger of loss to the seller. These are the 
"standard" cord and the "stove-wood" cord. Both are piles S feet long 
and 4 feet high, but the standard cord consists of 4 foot lengths, so that 
the pile is 4 feet wide; while the stove-wood cord consists of IG inch 
lengths, so that the pile is IG inches wide. The solid volume of a cord 
of stove-wood is thus only about a third that of a standard cord. Since 
the shorter the pieces, the less the amount of crookedness, a cord of stove- 
wood will actually contain a little more than one-third the volume 
of a standard cord. Cords made up of thick pieces contain more wood 
than those of small ]deces, while round sticks give a higher wood volume 
than split ones of about the same size. Considerable maple and beech 
body wood is shipped from upper Michigan ports in 4 foot lengths, but in 
the southern part of the State stovewood lengths are more often under- 
stood in woodlot sales. 

The price of wood for fuel de]>ends on its heating value, the rate at 
which it burns, and its abundance and availability. Compared with 
coal, the heating value of dilferent species is about as follows: one ton of 
coal is equal to a standard cord of hickorj^, oak, beech, birch, hard majde, 
ash, elm, locust, or cherry; a cord and a half of sycamore or soft maple; 
and two cords of cedar, poplar, or basswood. The greater abundance of 
wood and the smaller population in the northern part of the State give 
it a somewhat lower value than in southern Michigan. 

Wholesale values for stove wood in some of the cities in the central 
and southern counties average from |2 to 12.50 ])er cord. Ivetail prices 
run from |3 to |3.75 i)er cord. By working up a direct market for his 
wood among town consumers the farmer can frequently better his sales 
by 50 cents or ifl a cord. 

Stovewood of beech, birch, and maple usually brings from .|2.25 to 
|2.50 per cord, Avholesale. The bi'st second-grovrth oak and hickory 
often sells to dealers for no more than |2.50 per coid. I'^lm and other 
f^ofter woods usually sell for from .f2 to |2.25 i)er cord. Mxceid where 
sawmills have accumidated slab-wood in excess of the demand, hard- 
wood slabs from portable mills can ollcii be (lis])os('<l of for fi'om |2 to 
!ii;2.25 per cord. 

Lime kilns and brick yards use a great deal of wood, which they buy 
in 4 foot lengths. They can use very low grade material, and since the 
shipment must often be for long distances, do not i>ay high prices for it. 
Low as the prices are, however, they may make it possible^ for farmers to 
clean up their clearings and make day wages in doing it. Tin- ])rices are 
aj.t to be from .f2 to |2.75 i>er cord of 4 foot lengths. 

CONDUCTINCJ TUB SALE. 

Tind)er may be sold either standing ("on Ihe stumj)") or felled and 
cut into logs, bolts, ties, or other ]>roducls. Standing lindicr may be 
sold either by "the lot," by "acreage," or by "stumpage." Selling by the 
lot or by acreage is the easiest method, but it ])resents the greatest like- 

*See U. S. Department of Agriculture farmer's bulletin 711 — "The Care ami Improvement of the 
Woodlot," which can be obtained free of charge on application to the Forester, Washington, D. C. 




s&>« 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 29 

lihood of the farmer losing a large part of the value of the timber. He 
is very apt to sell for what he thinks a "good oft'er'' without taking the 
trouble to find out for himself just how much of each species of tree the 
woodlot contains, and what the best market for it is. The buyer 
naturally pays as little as ])Ossible for it, and since he is experienced in 
sizing up timber he is much better prei)ared than the farmer to estiniaie 
at a glance the value of the woodlot. In some regions "acreage" prices 
of from |50 to |100, according to the amount, quality, and situation of 
the timber, are customarily offered by ]»ortable mill operators. The 
acreage i)rice may be all that the stand is worth, and the buyer may be 
l)erfectly honest in computing for himself only a fair ju'ofit. On the 
other hand, if the buyer is unscrujuilous the farmer who does not know 
his timber is at a very great disadvanlage in this method of selling. 
Furthermore, much is usually to be gained if the farmer, instead of 
selling through a "middleman," deals directly with the manufacturer for 
whatever materials he can, and sells the rest, in the log or by stumpage. 
(o a local sawmill, wood yard, or other purchaser. 

Scales of stumpage (standing timber) are much preferable, since these 
involve an actual estimate of the standing timber, which is paid for by 
the tree, or by estimated contents in board feet or other unit. The owner 
should protect himself by making his own estimate of the stand, in some 
such way as described on pp. \) to 15. Having done so, and having 
found out for himself what values he can command for his rough 
jiroducts in different markets he is, of course, in a position to bargain 
with local buyers for a lump sum, on the basis either of acreage or of the 
entire lot. As a result of such an investigation he will often jjrefer to 
sell parts of his stand to a number of different dealers in specialized 
industries, such as veneer, handle, or Avoodenware manufacturers. 

Tn most cases, ])robably, the sale of cut products will be the most 
satisfactory method of all. Such sales are made either on delivery by 
(he farmer of material cut by himself, or on the scale or tally of timber 
which is being cut in his Avoodlot by the bu.yer. In either case a unit 
pi'ice for each species and form of material is agreed upon in advance. 
When logs- are sold the unit is the thousand feet, board measure, scaled 
according to a specified log rule. The Doyle and the Scribner rules are 
those most used, and of these the Scribner is preferable, since it gives 
more accurate results with the smaller logs. These rules are given on 
pp. 31 and 32. To protect himself the farmer should check all scaling, 
and an understanding as to deduction for defects should be reached in 
advance of cutting. This is discussed on p. 33 under the heading of 
"Scaling." In selling to portable mill operators a good basis is the 
thousand feet of lumber, actually sawed out at the mill. 

The sale on delivery of tind)er cut by the farmer himself has a great 
deal to recommend it. The farmer pays the cost of cutting and delivery, 
and the prices he receives should therefore be greater by the amount of 
the labor cost, often a consideral)le item. Since woods work can be done 
in the winter and at odd times when the regular farm work is nol 
])ressing and teams and men otherwise idle can be used, the difference 
in price to be realized may be considered a clear gain. By doing his 
own cutting the farmer may also conduct it in such a way as to im- 
prove the condition of his woodlot, a matter in which the contractor or 
sawmill employee would have no interest. 



30 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

Coiilrdctiitf/ for ilw sale 

Even ill small sales, it is always best to put tlie agreements into writ- 
ing. In this way a great deal of disagreement and financial loss may 
be avoided. In making the contract the seller must have fully in mind 
the terms of the sale; and the contract may call to the farmer's atten- 
tion important details which would otherwise have been overlooked. The 
essential conditions of a comjdete contract relate to (I) description 
and location of the timber, (II) price and manner of payment, (III) 
conditions of cutting and removal, and (IV) title and means of settling 
disputes. Under the third heading comes the duration of the contract, 
the size and character of the timber to he cut, and the method of mark- 
ing to designate it, method of scaling, designation of what material is 
to be considered merchantable and must be removed from the woods (to 
prevent the leaving of any more low grade or refuse stutl' than necessary 
or desirable), and protection against injury to any trees left standing. 

The contract should i)rescribe the estimated amount of timber to be 
sold, and its condition, whether living or dead or both. It should specify 
the unit of sale — 1,000 board feet of logs or lumber, cords, ties, poles, 
etc., — and the amount to be paid, per unit, for each species of timber 
sold. Such items as the kind of log rule to be used, and the size of the 
cord (IG-inch or 4-foot lengths, etc) should be clearly designated, and 
the time at which the payment shall be made, should also be entered. 
The contract should give the amount to be allowed for trimming log 
ends, in excess of which the logs are to be scaled as though a foot 
longer. If the timber to be sold is to be marked, the contract should 
prohibit the removal of unmarked timber. If only the trees above a cer- 
tain diameter are to be sold, this diameter should be specified, as well 
as the height at which it is to be measured, as "1 foot above the ground" 
or "at breast height (4^^ feet)." Low cut stumps and close utilization 
into the top should be required, together with the exercise of due care 
on the i)art of the ])ur(^haser to ])revent fire from spreading. A j)rovision 
retaining title to all timber covered by tlie agreement should be included. 

Other clauses which might be included are those requiring that the 
timber shall be scaled in "the presence of the seller or his authorized 
agent; that log lengths shall be varied so as best to utilize the timber; 
that unmarked trees, if cut, shall be paid for at double the stated price; 
that tops left in logging shall remain on the tract for the use of the 
seller (or, if desirecCshall be utilizt'd by the purchaser). In selling by 
lump sums the provisions relating to scaling and unit prices may, of 
course, be omitted, but not the total amount to be paid. It is assumed 
that the farmer will precede any luni]) sum sale by a careful estimate of 
his stand and an inquiry as to the price, on the stump, which he should 
receive for each kind of product; with this knowledge he will be pre- 
pared to sell ''by acreage" or ''by the lot." 

A sample contract for woodlot sales is contained in TJ. S. Department 
of Agriculture farmer's bulletin 715, "Measuring and Marketing Wood- 
lot Products," which can be secured free of charge on ai»])licatioii to the 
Foresler, Forest Service, Washington, D. O. 



SELLING WOODLOT I'llODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



31 



Healing the logs 

''Scaling" logs iiioiins deterininiug their apinoxiiualc coiilciils in 
inmber by nica.surino; Uiem and applying volume fignies already worked 
out. Tables containing these figures are called log rules, and tlie two in 
most common use are the Scribner and the Doyle log I'ules. The Scribner 
is undoubtedly the better rule for woodlot use, since it gives a fairer scale 
(o the small logs. These rules are given in Tables t» and 7. 



TABLE 6.— SCRIBNER LOG RULE. 



Diameter inside bark, 
small end of log. 



26. 

27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 

31. 
32. 
33. 
34. 
35. 

36. 
37. 
38, 
39. 
40. 

41. 

42. 
43. 
44. 



Inches. 



Length of lof;, in feet. 



Contents in board feet. 



7 


10 


14 


16 


18 


21 


10 


14 


18 


22 


24 


28 


13 


17 


23 


28 


32 


36 


1!) 


25 


30 


35 


42 


48 


26 


33 


38 


45 


54 


62 


32 


41 


48 


56 


64 


72 


3<J 


49 


59 


69 


79 


88 


40 


61 


73 


85 


97 


109 


hH 


72 


86 


100 


114 


129 


VI 


89 


107 


125 


142 


160 


70 


90 


119 


1.39 


1.59 


178 


03 


116 


1.39 


162 


185 


208 


106 


133 


160 


187 


213 


240 


120 


1.50 


ISO 


210 


240 


270 


140 


175 


210 


245 


280 


315 


1.52 


190 


228 


206 


304 


342 


167 


200 


251 


202 


334 


376 


l,s<s 


235 


283 


330 


377 


424 


202 


252 


303 


353 


404 


454 


230 


287 


344 


401 


4.59 


516 


2.')0 


313 


375 


439 


500 


562 


2V4 


342 


411 


479 


548 


616 


200 


363 


436 


509 


582 


654 


30.') 


381 


457 


533 


600 


685 


320 


411 


493 


575 


657 


739 


3.5.5 


444 


532 


022 


710 


799 


368 


460 


552 


644 


736 


828 


302 


490 


588 


686 


784 


882 


400 


500 


600 


700 


800 


900 


438 


547 


657 


766 


876 


985 


462 


577 


692 


807 


923 


1,038 


615 


644 


772 


901 


1,020 


1 , 158 


535 


669 


801 


934 


1,068 


1,201 


660 


700 


840 


980 


1,120 


1,260 


602 


752 


903 


1,053 


1,204 


1,.3.54 


636 


795 


954 


1,113 


1,272 


1.431 


67 2 


840 


1,(107 


1,175 


1,343 


1,511 


608 


872 


1,046 


1 ,222 


1,.306 


1,571 


740 


925 


1,110 


1 , 295 


1,480 


1,665 



20 



08 
122 
143 

178 

lOS 
232 
267 
300 
3.50 

380 
418 
470 
505 
573 

625 

684 
728 
761 
821 

888 

920 

98(1 

1,000 

1,095 

1 , 152 

1,287 
1,3.35 
1,400 
1,505 

l,.50O 
1,670 
1,745 
1,850 



32 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

TABLE 7.-J)0YLE LOCi RULE. 



Diameter inside hark, 
small end of log. 








Length of 


og, in feet. 








6 


8 


10 


12 


14 


16 


IS 


20 


Inches. 








Contents in 


board feet- 








6 

7 

S 


1.5 

3.4 

(i 

9 

13 

IS 
24 
30 
37 
45 

54 
63 
73 

.SI. 

'.16 

lOS 
121 
135 
150 
105 

ISI 
19S 
210 
234 
253 

273 
294 
315 
337 
360 

384 
40.S 
433 
450 

480 

513 
541 

570 
600 


2 

4.5 

8 

12 

18 

24 

40 
50 
60 

72 
84 
98 
112 
128 

144 
162 
180 
200 
220 

242 
2(i4 
288 
312 
338 

301 

420 
450 
480 

512 
,544 
578 
012 
048 

084 
722 
700 
800 


2.5 

5.0 

10 

10 

31 
40 
51 
02 
76 

00 
100 
122 
141 

160 

181 
202 
226 
250 
276 

302 
331 
360 
301 
422 

456 
400 
.520 
502 
601 

640 
681 

722 
766 
810 

850 

902 

051 

1,000 


3.0 

6.8 

12 

10 

27 

37 
48 
61 
75 
91 

108 
127 
147 
100 
192 

217 
243 
271 
300 
331 

303 
307 
432 
400 
507 

.547 
588 
031 
675 
721 

768 
817 
807 
010 
972 

1,027 
1,0,83 
1,141 
1,200 


3 5 

7.9 

14 

22 

31 

43 
50 
71 
87 
106 

126 
148 
171 

197 
224 

2.53 
283 
310 
350 
380 

423 
403 
504 
.547 
591 

038 
080 
736 
7.S7 
,841 

890 

9,'i3 

1,011 

1,072 

1,131 

1 , 198 
1 , 263 
1,331 
1,4(X) 


4 
9 
If) 

30 

40 
04 
81 
100 
121 

144 

100 
100 

256 

289 
324 
361 
400 
441 

484 
520 
570 
025 
070 

729 
784 
841 
900 
Olil 

1,024 
l.OSi) 
1,1.50 

1 ', 290 

1,3()0 
1,444 
1,521 
1,000 


4,5 

10 1 

18 

28 

40 

72 
91 
112 
130 

ii;2 

190 
220 
253 

288 

325 
304 
400 
450 
496 

544 
595 
648 
703 

7t;o 

,820 

8S2 

046 

1.012 

1,081 

1 , 152 
1 , 225 
1,300 
1 , 378 
1 , 45S 

l,,54tl 
1,624 
1,711 
1,800 


5.0 

11.3 

20 


9 . 


31 


10 

11 

12 


45 

61 

80 


I.i 

14 

15 

Ifi 

17 

l.s 


101 
125 
151 

1,80 
211 
245 


10 

20 


281 
320 


21 


361 




405 


2.3 


451 


24 


500 
551 


2t) 

27 

2S 


605 
661 
720 


20 


781 


■M) 

;U 


845 
Oil 


:{2 


980 


3.3 


1,051 


34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 


1 . 125 
1,201 

1 , 2S0 
1,361 
1,445 
1,,531 


40 

41 

42 

43 


1 , 620 

1,711 
l,.Stl5 
1,901 


44 


2,000 



Tile ordinarv way of iisiiijH' these rules is by means of "scale sticks," 
which are Ihiii stii]»s of hickory, with the loi;- voliiiues iu board feet 
corres])ondinu; to ditfereiit leiijiths of log- burned into the two sides (»f 
the stick. In scalinji', the stick is laid across the average diameter of 
the log at its small end iiisi(h' the bark, and the figure nearest the bark 
which corresponds to the estimated or measured log length is the con- 
tents in board feet according to the ])articular rule used. Scale sticks 
for either the Scribiier or ihe Dovle rule can be ]mrchased for .fl.50 
or |2. 

While the use of scale sticks makes it ]iossible to i-ead olf the volumes 
directly and thus save some time in scaling, it is by no means necessary 
to have one. It is a siiiijtlc matter to measure the average inside bark 
diameter Avith an ordinary rule, and refer to the tables here given for 
the corresponding volume. Tn measuring the diameters, fractions of an 



SELLING WOODLOT rilODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 33 

iucli should be disregai-ded ; lor example, if the actual diameter is Ty^ 
iuehes, the volume used should be that of a 7-inch log. The length of 
tlie log can be measured conveniently by means of a stick 8 feet long, 
marked at every foot or two: Logs should be cut about 3 inches longer 
than the specified length, so that the rough end may be trimmed at the 
mill. Three inches is as much as is necessary for this; larger amounts 
constitute a direct waste. 

The volume of each log should be immediately entered in a notebook, 
logether with the species, and the log shonld be marked with a lumber 
crayon to avoid danger of rescaling it. A convenient way to record the 
volumes is to put them in columns nnder the name of the species. It 
is a good ]>lan to nundjcr the logs with the lumber crayon as they are 
scaled, and to record the same number opposite the respective volumes 
in the notebook. This makes it possible, in case of dispute, to go back 
to any individual log for the purpose of remeasurement. 

''Scaling out" defects 

Log rules are made for sound logs and do not take into account de- 
fects; consequently the amount of defect must be estimated and deducted 
from the full scale. When the defect is rot or hollow at the center of 
the log it may be ''scaled out" either (1) by giving the log a volume corre- 
s])onding to that of a log an inch or more smaller or a foot or two 
shorter, the amount to be gauged by the estimated amount of the defect ; 
or (2) by deducting from the full scale the amount of board feet which 
would be contained in a board as long as the log and a little wider and 
thicker than the defect. Where the log is hollow or badly rotten at the 
heart, as is apt to be the case in old basswood trees, the defect may be 
scaled as though it were a small log. and the volume then subtracted 
from the full scale of the log. When the heart is sound but the sapwood 
is rotten or badly checked, only the heart should be scaled. 

Crooked logs cut ont a large per cent of short and bark-edged pieces 
of very little value, and it is necessary to deduct from the full scale the 
amount which in the opinion of the scaler would be lost in cutting. The 
scaler should sight along a curved log, noting where the saw will square 
it sufficiently to cut boards on both sides affected by the curve. Curve is 
much more serious in short than in long logs. In crooked logs 16 feet 
or more in length, little need be deducted from the full scale, since most of 
the shorter boards manufactured will still be long enough for sale. 

f^liipj)ing hi/ railroad 

The two essentials in determining the cost of shipping woodlot 
])roducts are the rate per 100 pounds to the destination and the weight 
of the materials to be shipped. The shipping charge, as for any other 
farm product, is simply the rate multiplied by the nnmber of 100 pounds 
in the weight. Freight rates on wood products are low; since different 
roads have different rates, and these are not strictly uniform according 
to distance, they should be ascertained in advance of the sale from the 
local freight agent. At the same time the luinimum carload weight 
to which the rate ap])]ies should be ascertained. The minimum weight 
usually exceeds 30,000 pounds and is sometimes as great as 60,000 



;jl SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

j)()uii(ls. Less than carload lots caii, of course, be shipped, but at a greak'i- 
exi)euse per 100 pounds. When one farmer has less than a carbiad lo 
sell, two or more may combine in order to take advantage of the lowei- 
rate. Freight rates over two or more lines are higher than when the 
same distance is covered by only one railroad. Such combined rates 
can l)e worked out and other information secured on inquiry of frcighl 
agents. The approximate weights per 1000 board feet of lumber and 
logs, and per cord of bolts, for different species of trees are shoAvn iu 
table 8. Table 9 gives the weight per stack of green and air-dry bolts 
of different species and different lengths. The advantage of shipjiing 
air-dried material is at once apparent. Not all the native species are 
given in the table, but their weight may be quite closely estimated by 
comi)arison Avith some of the others. For instance, the weigh! of aspen 
would be about the same as that of coltouAvood, that of soft ma])le 
about the same as that of cherry, etc. The figures iu these tables are not 
given as weights adopted by any railroad company, but only as average 
weights upon which the timber owner may base his preliminary estimates 
of the cost of shipping. 







TABLE 8.-WEIGHTS OF VARIOUS WOODLOT PRODUCTS. 








Lumber (per 1 000 
board feet ) 


Logs per 1 , 000 board feet log scale. Doyle rule. 




species. 


1 inch thick. 


Diameter inside 

bark at small end, 

12 inches. 


Diameter inside 

bark at small end, 

IS inches 


Diameter inside 

bark at small end, 

24 inches. 


butts, etc., 90 cu. ft. 
per cord. 




Green. 


Air Dry. 


Green. 


Dry. 


Green. 


Dry. 


Green. 


Dry. Green. 


Dry. 


Ash, white 

Basswood 

Beech 

Birch, yellow . . 
Cherry, black . . 

Chestnut 

Cottonwood . . . 

Klra, soft 

Elm, rock 

Gum, red 

Hickory 

Locust, black . . 
Maple, sugar. . 
Mai)le, red. . . . 

Maple, silver. . . 

Oak, red 

o.ak, white .... 
Sycamore 

Yellow poi)lar. . 

Tupelo 

Walnut 

Willow 


Pounds. 
4,000 
3,400 
4,000 
4, SCO 
3,S00 

4,000 
3,000 
4,000 
4,000 

3,900 
5,200 
4,S00 
4,700 
4,300 

3,.S00 
5,400 
5.200 
4,300 

3,200 
5,. 500 
4,300 
4,300 


Pounds. 
3,500 
2,100 
3,000 
3,700 
3,000 

2,. 500 
2,200 
2,900 
3,300 

2,S00 
4,300 
4,100 
3,000 
3,000 

2,800 
3,000 
4,000 
3,000 

2,400 
3,000 
3,000 
2,100 


Pounds. 
11.100 
9,500 
12,700 
13,200 
10,. 500 

12,000 
10,700 
11,200 
12,000 

10,700 
14,700 
13,300 
12,900 
11,900 

10,500 
14,800 
14,400 
12,000 

8,800 
15,100 
11,900 
11,800 


Pounds. 
9,700 
5,900 
10,100 
10,300 
8,300 

7,000 
0.300 
8,000 
9,200 

7,800 
11,900 
11,400 
10,000 

8,200 

7,800 
10,100 
11,000 

8,300 

0,500 
8,400 
8 , 200 
5,900 


Pounds. 
7,700 
6,600 
8,900 
9,200 
7,300 

8,800 
7,. 500 

7 , 800 
8,800 

7,. 500 
10,300 
9,300 
9,000 
8,300 

7,300 
10,300 
10,000 

8,400 

0,100 
10,500 

8 , 300 
8,200 


Pounds 
6,800 
4,100 
7,000 
7,200 
5,800 

4,900 
4,400 
5,000 
0,400 

5,. 500 
8,300 
7.900 
7,000 
5,700 

5,400 
7,000 
7,700 
5,800 

4,. 500 
5,900 
5,700 
4,100 


Pounds. 
0,600 
5,000 
7,. 500 
7,800 
6,200 

7,. 500 
6,300 
0,000 
7,. 500 

6,300 
8,700 
7,900 
7,000 
7,100 

6,200 
8 , 800 
8,. 500 
7,100 

5,200 
8,900 
7,100 
7,000 


Pounds. 
5,700 
3,500 
6,000 
6,100 
4,900 

4,100 
3,700 
4,700 
5,500 

4,600 
7,000 
6,700 
5,900 
4,900 

4,600 
6,000 
6,. 500 
4,900 

3,900 
5,000 
4,900 
3,500 


Pounds. 
4,300 
3,700 
5,000 
5,100 
4,100 

4,900 
4,200 
4,400 
4,900 

4,200 
5,700 
5,200 
5.000 
4,700 

4,100 
5,800 
5,600 
4,700 

3,400 
5 , 900 
4,700 
4.600 


Poun.ls. 
3.800 
2,300 
3 , 900 
4,000 
3,200 

2,700 
2,. 500 
3,100 
3,600 

3,100 
4,600 
4,400 
3,900 
3,200 

3,000 
3,900 
4,300 
3,200 

2,. 500 
3,300 
3 , 200 
2,300 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



35 



TABLE 9.-WEIGHTS PER STACK OF BOLTS. GREEN AND DRY, OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS AND 
DIAMETERS AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF WOOD. 



Species. 



Dia- 
meter. 



Inches. 



Length of bolt — feet. 



2i 3 

cord). (■} cord). 



3^ 4 4i ' 5 

(g cord). (1 cord). (1 J cords). (1| cords). 



5i 

(1| cords). 



m cords). 



Weight per stack — pounds. 



Weight 

per 
cu. ft. 



Pounds. 



Ash, white: 
Green 

Air dry 

Basswood: 
Green 

Air dry 

Cottonwood: 
Green 

Air dry 

Eim, rock and 
white: 
Green 

Air dry 

Hickory, shagbark 
Green 

Air dry 



2,600 


3,200 


3,700 


4,200 


2,800 


3,300 


3,900 


4,400 


2,900 


3,400 


4,000 


4,600 


2,300 


2,800 


3,200 


3,700 


2,400 


2,900 


3,400 


3,900 


2,500 


3,000 


3,500 


4,000 


2,300 


2,700 


3,200 


3,600 


2,400 


2,800 


3,300 


3,800 


2,500 


2,900 


3,400 


3,900 


1,400 


1,700 


2,000 


2,300 


i,rm 


1,800 


2,100 


2,400 


1,500 


1,800 


2,100 


2,500 


2,600 


3,100 


3,600 


4,100 


2.700 


3,200 


3,700 


4,300 


2,800 


3,300 


3,900 


4,400 


1,500 


1,800 


2,100 


2,400 


1,600 


1,900 


2,200 


2,500 


1,600 


1,900 


2,300 


2,600 


2,700 


3,200 


3,700 


4,300 


2,800 


3,400 


3,900 


4,500 


2,900 


3.500 


4,000 


4,600 


1,900 


2,300 


2,700 


3,000 


2,000 


2,400 


2,800 


3,200 


2,100 


2,500 


2,900 


3,300 


3,500 


4,200 


4,900 


5,600 


3,700 


4,400 


5,100 


5,900 


3,800 


4,500 


5,300 


6,100 


2,800 


3.400 


4.000 


4,500 


3,000 


3,600 


4,100 


4,700 


3,100 


3,700 


4,300 


4,900 



4,800 
5,000 
5,100 
4,200 
4,400 
4,500 

4,100 
4,300 
4,400 
2,600 
2,700 
2,800 

4,600 
4,800 
5,000 
2,700 
2,800 
2,900 

4,800 
5,000 
5,200 
3,400 
3,600 
3,700 

6,300 
6,600 
6,800 
5,100 
5,300 
5,500 



5,300 
5,. 500 
5,700 
4,600 
4,800 
5,000 

4,500 
4,700 
4,900 
2,800 
3,000 
3,100 

5,100 
5,300 
5,500 
3,000 
3,100 
3,200 

5,300 
5,600 
5,800 
3,800 
4,000 
4,100 

7,000 
7,300 
7,600 
5,700 
5,900 
6,100 



5.800 
6,100 
6,300 
5,100 
5,300 
5,500 

5,000 
5,200 
5.400 
3,100 
3,300 
3,400 

5,600 
5,900 
6,100 
3,300 
3,500 
3,600 

5,900 
6,100 
6,300 
4,200 
4,400 
4,500 

7,700 
8,100 
8,300 
6,200 
6,500 
6,700 



6,300 
6,600 
6,900 
5,600 
5,800 
6,000 

5,500 
5,700 
5,900 
3,400 
3,600 
3,700 

6,100 
6,400 
6,600 
3,600 
3,800 
3,900 

6,400 
6,700 
6,900 
4,600 
4,800 
4,900 

8,400 
8,800 
9,100 
6,800 
7,100 
7,300 



48.1 
42.1 

41.3 

25.8 

46.5 
27.3 

48.6 
34.6 

63.8 
51 5 



.Stacks arc 4 feet hi.uli by 8 
4 feet long make a standard cord, 
lengths a cord and over. 



foot long, made up of bolts of difl'orcnt 
while shorter lengths make ".short i-ords. 



sizes. r.o 
' and loUL 



36 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



Tables 10 and 11 give the approximate cost per 1000 board feet of 
shipping green and air dry logs and lumber, respectively, to distances 
snch that the freight rates per 100 lbs. are from 2 to 10 cents. 



TABLE 10.— COST OF SHIPPING OREEN AND AIR DRY LOGS, PER THOUSAND BOARD FEET (DOYLE 
SCALE), WITH RATES OF FROM 2 TO 10 CENTS PER 100 POUNDS. 

(Costs given are for logs measuring 18 inches in diameter at the small end. For_ 12-inch logs add 40 per cent, and for 
24-inch logs subtract 15 per cent of the costs given. Weights used are those shown in Table 8.) 



Species. 



Rate in cents per hundred pounds. 



3. 4. 1 5. 6. 


7. 


8. 


0. 



Cost of shipping per 1,000 board feet. 



Ash 

Basswood. . . . 

Beech 

Bircli, yellow. . 
Cherry, black . 
Cottonwooil . 

Elm 

Hickory 



/ Green. . 
1 Air dry. 

f ( 1 reen . . 
\ Air dry. 

f Green. . 
\ Air dry . 

f Green . . 
\ Air dry. 

f Green. . 
\ Air dry. 

f Green . . 
\ Air dry. 

( (ircen, . 
\ Air dry. 

( (ireen. . 
( .Air dry . 



., , ( Green . 

M^l'''-' ^"^^'^ lAirdrv. 



Oak, red 

Oak, white. . . 

Sycamore 

"^'elliiw pi>plar. 
Walnut 



f Green. . 
\ .\\r dry. 



I Green. . 
\ .Mr dry. 



f Green. . 
1 Airdrv. 



Green. . 
.■\ir dry. 



f Green.. 
1 Air dry. 



.S.^.O0 

2 . 72 



2 f.4 
1,04 



?, .50 
2 . 80 



3 , 08 



2.02 
2.32 

3.00 
1.70 

3 32 1 
2,40 

4 12 
3.32 

3. GO 
2.80 

4.12 

2.80 

4.00 
3.08 

3,36 
2,32 

2 44 
1,80 

3,32 
2,28 



S3. 8,5 
3.40 



3 30 
2 , 05 



4 4,i 

3 , ."0 



4 , 00 
3 , OO 



3 , 0.") 
2 , 00 



3 7.-. 
2 20 



4,1.5 
3 00 



.5 l.i 

4,15 



4 . .50 
3 . 50 



5,15 
3.. 50 



5.00 
3. 85 



4,20 
2.90 



4 15 

2 , 85 



$4.02 
4.08 



3 1)0 
2,4li 



5 34 
4,20 



4 38 
3,48 



4 50 
2 , 04 



4 9.S 
3 . 00 



18 
4 . 08 



0.18 
4 . 20 



0,00 
4 , 02 



5 01 
3,48 



3 . 00 
2 70 



1 OS 
3 42 



$5,30 
4,75 



4,02 

2 87 



23 
4 00 



0,44 
5 , 04 



5 11 

4 00 



5,81 
4.20 



7.21 
5 81 



30 
4.00 



7.21 
4,00 



7,00 
5 , :!0 



5 SS 
4 . 00 



4 27 
3,1- 



$0,16 
5 44 


$0,03 
12 


5 28 
3,28 


5.04 
3 . 00 


7.12 
5 , 00 


8 01 
6.30 


7,36 
5 , 70 


8 2S 
6.48 


5 84 
4,04 


6,57 
5.22 


6 00 
3 , 52 


0.75 
3.96 


04 
4 , 80 


7.47 
5 40 


8 24 
04 


9.27 
7.47 


7.20 
5,00 


8.10 
6 30 


8,24 
5.()0 


27 
0.30 


8 00 
0,16 


9.00 
0.03 


0,72 
4,04 


7,56 
5,22 


4,88 
3,60 


5,49 
4,05 


6 64 
4,5li 


7 47 
5 13 



$7 70 
6 Ml 



0.00 
4 10 



8 90 
7,00 



9,20 
7,20 



7 50 

4 40 

8 30 
0(10 

10 30 
8 30 

00 
7 00 

10,30 
7.00 

10,00 
7,70 

8,40 

5 Ml 

(J 10 
4 50 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



37 



TABLE Il.-COST OF SHirPING GREEN AND AIR-DRY 1-INCH LUMBER, PER THOUSAND BOARD 
FEET, WITH RATES OF FROM 2 TO 10 CENTS PER HUNDRED POUNDS. 

Weights used are those shown in Table S, columns 1 and 2. 



Species. 



Rate in cents per hundred pounds. 



3. 


4. 


5. 


6. 


7. 


8. 


9. 



Cost of sliippiug per 1,000 board feet. 



Ash. 



Basswood 



Beech 

Birch, yellow. 
Cherry, black . 
Cottonwood . . 



f Green. . . 
\ Air dry. 

f Green . . . 
\ A'\T dry. 

j Green. . . 
\ Air dry . 

f Green. . 
\ .\ir dry . 

f Green. . 
' \ Air dry . 

( Green. . 
' \ Air dry. 



•SO 



E"" {2:^^yv 

"'^•^-y {««-■ 

M'^P'-.-^- I2i;^djy. 



I Green . 
\ AiT dry. 

/ Green . . 
\ .\ir dry . 



Oak, red... 
Oak, white. 



Y«>'- poplar {G«-^- 

Walnut 



) Green. . 
\ .\ir dry . 



1,08 



$1.20 
1.05 



1.02 
.63 



1.38 
1.08 



1.44 
1.11 



1.14 
.90 



1.08 
.66 



1.29 
.93 



1.5G 
1.29 



1.41 

l.OS 



1.62 
1.08 



1.56 
1.20 



1.29 
.90 



1 . 29 

.yu 



SI. 60 
1.40 



1.36 

.84 



1.84 
1.44 



1.92 
1.48 



1.52 

1.20 



1.44 

.88 



1.72 
1.24 



2 . 08 
1.72 



1.S8 
1.44 



2.16 
1.44 



2.08 
1.60 



1.72 
1.20 



1.28 
.96 



1.72 
1.20 



S2.00 
1.75 



1.70 
1.05 



2.30 
1.80 



2.40 
1.85 



1.90 
1.50 



1.80 
1.10 



2 . 15 
1.55 



2.60 
2.15 



2 . 35 
1 . SO 



2,70 
1.80 



2.60 
2.00 



2.15 
1.50 



1,60 
1 . 20 



2,15 
1.50 



$2.40 
2.10 



2.04 
1.26 



2.76 
2.16 



2.28 
1.80 



2.16 
1.32 



2.58 
1.86 



3 12 

2 . 58 



2.82 
2.16 



3 24 

2.16 



3 12 

2.40 



2.. 58 
1.80 



1 92 
1.44 



2.58 
1.80 



$2.80 
2.45 



2.38 
1.47 



3.22 

2.52 



3.36 
2.59 



2 , 66 
2,10 



2.52 
1.54 



3.01 
2.17 



3.64 
3.01 



3.29 



3.78 
2.52 



3 64 

2.80 



3 01 
2.10 



2.24 
r68 



3.01 
2.10 



$3.20 
2 80 



2 72 
L6S 



3.68 
2.88 



3.84 
2.96 



3.04 
2.40 



2.88 
1.76 



3.44 

2.48 



4.16 
3.44 



3.76 

2.88 



4.32 

2.88 



4 16 

3.20 



3.44 

2.40 



2.56 
1.92 



3.44 

2.40 



.$3 . 60 
3.15 



3.06 
1.89 



4.14 
3.24 



4.32 
3.33 



3.42 

2.70 



3.24 
1.98 



3.87 
2,79 



4.68 
3.87 



4.23 
3.24 



4.86 
3.24 



4.68 
3.60 



3.87 
2.70 



2.88 
2.16 



3.87 
2.70 



S4.00 
3.. 50 



3.40 
2.10 



4,60 
3.60 



4 . 80 
3 . 70 



3.80 
3.00 



3.60 
2,20 



4 30 
3 10- 



5,20 
4 30 



4.70 
3.60 



5,40 
3 60 



5 20 
4 00 



4 30 
3 00 



3 , 20 
2,40 



4 , 30 
3 00 



Tlie average aiiioinit of forest prodnots of any kind eoni 
carload varies with tlie size and load capacit}^ of tlie car and 
<»f tlie material. The f<dlowing' amonnts may be considered 
a carload for the standard car of ()0,000 i»onnds ca]tacity: 

Lnmber (rongh), 15,000 to 18,000 board feet. 

Lnmber (finished), 17,000 to 20,000 board feet. 

Logs (large: 24 inches), 5,000 to 7,000 board feet. 

Logs (small: 12 Inches), 4,000 to 5,000 board feet. 

Bolts or bntts, 12 to 10 cords. 

Cordwood (4 feet), 15 to 18 cords. 

Stovewood (IG inches), 30 to 40 ranks. 

Mine timber (.see posts, poles, logs). 

Poles or piling, 25 to 40 pieces. 

Ties (6"x8''x8'), 350 pieces. 

Ties (7"x9''x8y:.'), 300 pieces. 



ained 


in 


a 


the 


we It; 


hi 


ron; 


-h 


Iv 


IS 



38 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

Ties (5"xG"x5i/.'; mine tie), l.lilO i)i('(x's. 

Tosts (4" top, 7 rt.), 800 pieces. 

Posts (6" top, 8 ft.), 500 i)ie(rs. 

Taubai'k, 16 to 18 cords. 

Sawdust, 12 to 18 tons. 

The necessity of investigating slii])i)ing cliarges can sometimes be 
avoided by making the sale f. o. b. shipping point instead of at point of 
delivery. The bnyer, instead of the farmer, thns handles the shipping 
end of the bnsiness, and this arrangement shonld be made wherever 
possible. 

now TO PREVENT THE DETERIORATION OF CUT WOODLOT PRODUCTS. 

It is often necessary or desirable to put off the delivery of logs, bolts, 
]»oles, etc.. nntil some montlis after cntting, either in order to allow them 
lo season, or becanse a good sale can not be arranged at once. A great 
deal of the weight of freshly cnt prodncts is due to the water they con- 
lain, and a few months seasoning will often reduce this to a marked 
degree, the amount of reduction de[)ending, of course, on the clinuite, the 
weather, and the exposnre to sun and air. At the same time, nnless 
preventive measnres are taken, the prodncts are snre to deteriorate 
through decay, insect attack, checking, or some other agency. A certain 
amount of deterioration is apt to take place in any case if the delivery 
is put off for some lime; l)ut the amonnt can be greatly reduced, and the 
saving in weight and increase in strength dne to seasoning is more than 
enongh to counterbalance any small deterioration which may occnr in 
spite of the preventive measures. 

Logs should never be allowed to remain long in the woods after cntting. 
As soon as possible they shonld be taken to a dry, well-aired, and un- 
shaded area, and placed on skids, well off the ground. The bark may be 
left on the logs, and the ends shonld be coated with paint, creosote, or 
tar. This will not only assist in ])reventing decay, bnt will also retard 
seasoning to some extent aiid thus keej) the logs from checking badly. 

Poles should be ])eeled, and hauled or dragged to a ])lace free from 
debris or rank vegetation and freely exposed to snn and wind. There 
they shonld be rolled npon skidways not less than 18 inches high, so 
that no part of them will rest on the gronnd. There should be only one 
layer of poles on each skidway. When ties are cut, it is usually cheaper 
and most desirable to haul them, nnseasoned, directly to the railroad, 
and there pile them according to the specifications furnished by the tie 
l)uyer. 

Cordwood should be stacked in loose piles in a snnny well-aired and 
well-drained place free from rank vegetation. Two sticks on the gronnd 
rnnning the length of the pile will keep it from contact with the soil 
and thus ])revent decay in the lower layers. 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 39 

SOME OP THE PRINCIPAL USES OF COINIMON WOODLOT TREES. 

■ The following" list will serve as a rongli iudex to the most iiiiporlaiil 

uses, aside from lumber and fuel.* of the common trees in woodlots, 

which are discussed on pages IG to 28 under "choosing the market." 

Ash, black — handles; vehicle parts; baskets; tubs and pails; veneer for 
furniture; woven splint boxes. 

Ash, white — long handles; vehicle parts; singletrees; neck yokes, veneer; 
slack barrel staves and headings; pails and tubs; novelties; agricul- 
tural implements (rollers, etc.). 

Aspens ("popple") — boxes; excelsior; wood pulp; tubs and buckets. 

Balsam — (see fir). 

Basswood — veneer for packages; handles, woodenware and novelties; 
slack barrel staves, headings, and hoops; excelsior; baskets; tubs and 
pails. 

Beech— veneer for ])ackages; handles; felloes; woodenware; pails and 
tubs; slack barrel staves, headings and hoops; railroad ties ("treat- 
ment") ; chemical distillation. 

Blue beech — felloes; singletrees; spokes; small handles. 

Birch, })a])er ("white") — handles; agricultural implements; excelsior; 
boxes; baskets; clothespins; toothpicks; novelties. 

Birch, yellow and black ("sweet") — veneer for finish and furniture; 
handles; vehicle hubs; woodenware; novelties; spindles; slack barrel 
staves and headings; baskets; pails and tubs; railroad tics ("treat- 
ment") ; chemical distillation. 

Butternut^ — veneer for finish, furniture, etc. 

Cedar, white ("arborvitae") — poles; posts; piling; railroad ties; 
shingles; net floats; woodenware. 

Cherry, black^ — veneer for finish and furniture; novelties. 

Elm, cork ("rock")^ — handles; vehicle parts; slack barrel slaves, head- 
ings, hoops, and head linings ; bicycle rims ; basket hoops ; bent-Avood 
settees; insulator pins; tent pins and slides. 

Elm, white ("soft") — veneer for packages; handles; slack barrel staves, 
headings, hoops and head linings; ])oxes; baskets; bicycle rims; pails 
and tubs ; singletrees and veneers. 

Elm, slippery ("red") — handles; plow handles; neck yokes; eveners 
and singletrees; saddle trees; wagon reaches. 

Fir, balsam — wood pulp; excelsior; boxes; slack barrel cooj)erage; pails 
and tubs. 

Hemlock — wood pulp; boxes; pails and tubs; slack barrel slaves and 
headings ; tanbark. 

Hickory — handles; axles, singletrees, and spokes; agricultural imple- 
ments; vehicle parts; lumber and log rules; bicycle rims; machine 
axles; mallets and mauls. 

Hornbeam — logging tool handles; tongues for "big wheels;" axles; farm 
wagon felloes; garden hose reels; levers. 

Locust, black — posts; poles; insulator pins. 

*Pract.icallT all the species contribute to lumber and fuel, which are omitted in order to simplify the 
list and because it is difficult to classify in short space the many uses to which lumber is put. This 
depends upon the size and quality as w^ll as the kind of lumber. In general, softwood lumber (pine, 
hemlock, spruce, etc.') is used for buildinsr and rouph temporary construction purposes, while hard- 
wood lumber (oak, maple, birch, beech, etc.), goes largely into finish, floorinpr, and furniture. Both 
kinds supply large quantities of woodenware, novelties, agricultural implement frames, boxes, and 
crates. Miich softwood lumber is used for cheap furniture and for furniture backing. 

For a complete list of the uses of each species, see "Wood-using Industries of Michigan," 1012, 
obtaluablelfrom the Public Domain Commission, Lansing, Michigan. 



40 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

Maple, sugar and black ("hard")— veneer for tiiiisli and I'urniture; 

handles; vehicle parts; agricultural implements; slack barrel staves, 

headings, and hoops; railroad ties ("treatment"); bicycle rims; 

woodenware; novelties; dishes; mallets; pails and tubs; skewers; 

spindles; toothpicks; levers; chemical distillation. 
.Ma])le, red and white ("soft") — veneer for boxes, crates, etc.; handles; 

slack barrel staves; headings and hoops; woodenware. 
Oak, black ("vellow") — cultivator handles; plow beams; saddles; slack 

barrel cooperage; railroad ties ("treatment"). 
Oak, red — veneer for finish and furniture; handles; vehicle i>arls; slack 

barrel cooperage; railroad ties ("treatment"). 
Oak, white and bur — veneer for finish and furnituie; handles; vehicle 

parts; agricultural implements; tight and slack bari-el cooperage; 

railroad ties; car timbers. 
]*ine, jack, red, and white — boxes; buckets and kegs; slack barrel staves 

and headings; woodpulp. 
I'oplar, yellow — veneer for packages; excelsior. 
Spruce, black and white — woodpulp; excelsior; boxes. 
Sycamore — veneer for packages, finish, etc.; slack barrel headings; 

baskets. 
Tamarack^ — l)0xes; pails and tubs; slack barrel staves; railroad ties 

("treatment"); ship knees; woodpulp; excelsior. 
^^'alnut, black — veneer for finish and furniture; woodenware and novel- 
ties; gun stocks. 

DIRECTORY OF MICHIGAN FIRMS WlllCri BUY WOOD PRODUCTS "iN THE ROUGH." 

The following list of wood-using firms which buy rough products is 
supplied for the use of woodlot owners in finding the best markets for 
their timber. It is based partly on reports received by the Forest Ser- 
vice within recent years and juirtly on directories of firms compiled 
from other sources. The list is as complete as it could be made, Avith- 
ont, however, including sawmills. These were omitted because of the 
large number scattered throughout the State, most farmers knowing 
already those in their immediate vicinity. A numl)er of firms whicli 
miglit buy lumber sawed from fai-m woodlots are also unavoidably 
omitted. While the list is as nearly up to date as possible, there are 
])robably a few of the concerns which have ceased operating. 

The list is divided into three ])arts : the Ui)]>er Peninsula, the northern 
part of the Lower Peninsula, and the southern ])art of the Lower Penin- 
sula. In each of these divisions the counties* are given in al])habetical 
order, and the cities and towns in each county are arranged, also in 
al|>habetical order, beneath the county name. The Avoods used by each 
firm are given in the right hand column, so far as they could be learned 
fi'om the re]toi'ts submitted. The kind of industry and of wood used are 
indicated by a1)breviations, the exi)lanation of which is given at the head 
of the table. 

*The location of the difTereiit couufies is sliowii on tlie wood lot area map for' 1010, pap:e S. 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



41 



TABLE 12.-MICHIGAN FIRMS WHICH BUY WOOD PRODUCTS "IN THE ROUGH." 

(Abbreviations used.) 
Industries. 



Agr.imp. = Agricultural implements. 


Pulpwd. = Pulpwood. 


Wd. ware = Woodenware and novelties, dairymen's supplies, etc. 


Sp.-Ath. = Sporting and athletic goods. 


Inst. = Instruments, professional and scientific. 


T. coop. = Tight cooperage. 


SI. coop. = Slack cooperage. 


Wd. dist. = Wood distillation. 


P. M. P. = Planing mill products, sash, door and blinds. 


Misc. = Miscellaneous. 



Species. 



Asp. = Aspen. 
Bals. = Balsam fir. 
Bass. = Basswood. 
Bee. = Beech. 
Bir. = Birch. 



B. eld. 

But. 

Ced. 

Che. 

Hem. 



Boxelder. 

Butternut. 

Cedar. 

Cherry. 

Hemlock. 



Hick. = Hickory. 
Ho. = Hornbeam. 
J. p. = Jack pine. 
Map. = Maple. 
N.p.= Norway pine. 



0. = Oak. 

Pop. = Poplar. 

R. ced. = Red cedar. 

R. 0. = Red oak. 

Sp. = Spruce. 



Tarn. 
W. bir. 
W.ced. 
W. 0. 
W.p. 
Wit. 



Tamarack. 
White birch. 
White cedar. 
White oak. 
White pine. 
Willow. 



County and town. 



Industry. 



Firm. 



Wood used. 



Upper Peninsula. 



Alger: 

Munising. 
Munising. 
Munising. 



Chippewa: 

Rudyard . 



Delta: 

Escanaba 

Escanaba. . . 

Escanaba 

Escanaba 

Escanaba 

Gladstone. . , 

Gladstone | Veneer 

Masonville , P. M. P 



Veneer 

Pulpwd 

SI. coop., veneer. 



P.M. P. 



Veneer 

Ties, poles, posts. 
Wd. ware, veneer. 

Poles 

SI. coop 

Wd. dist 



Newhall . 
Wells... 
Wells... 



Dickinson: 

Hardwood. 

Houghton: 

Oskar 

Oskar 



Luce: 

McMillan . 
Newberry . 

Mackinac: 

St. Ign.ace. 



Marquette: 

(iwinn 

Little Lake . 
Marquette. . 
Marquette.. 

Marquette. . 



Menominee: 



Hermansville . 

Ingalls 

Menominee. . 
Menominee. . 
Menominee. . 
Menominee. . , 
Menominee. . . 



Cedar products. . . 

Wd. di.st 

Vehicles, P. M. P. 



Ties, poles, posts . 



Wd. dist. 
Wd.di.st. 



SI. coop. 
Wd. dist. 



Ties, telegraph poles. 



P.M. P. 
P.M. P. 
Wd. dist. 
P.M. P. 

Boxes. . . 



Poles, posts 

Ties, poles, posts . 
Ties, poles, posts. 
Telephone poles. . 
Ties, poles, posts . 

Poles 

Pulpwd 



Great Lake Veneer Co 

Munising Paper Co., Ltd 

Superior Veneer & Cooperage Co. . . 

Guis, Harry 

Bird's-Eye Veneer Co 

Eriokson & Bissell 

Escanaba Mfg. Co 

National Pole Co 

Northwestern Cooperage & Lbr. Co . 

Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., The 

Northwestern Cooperage & Lbr. C!o 

Escanaba Lbr. Co 

National Pole Co 

Mashek Chem. & Iron Co 

Stephenson, I., Co 

Anderson, P.J 

Burkman & Sons, Nels 

Eilola, Frank 

Northern Cooperage & Lbr. Co 

Newberry Chem. Co 

Connor & Bissell 

Gwinn Lbr. Co 

Goodman. B. J 

Pioneer Iron Co 

Consolidated Fuel & Lbr. Co 

Sambrack, F. W., & Son 

Perrigo & Soas 

Wisconsin Land & Lbr. Co 

Carley, Ira 

Craford Cedar Co 

Girard Lbr. Co 

Huebel, C. J., Co 

Marinette & Menominee Paper Co.. 
Peninsular Box Co 



W.p. 



Ced. 
Map. 
Ced. 



Hem. 

Cod. 



Ash, Elm, But., Wil., B. eld.. Map,, 
Bee., Bir., W. p., N. p., Hera., Sp., 
Bals., Ced., Bass., Asp., Ho., Pop. 



Ced. 



W. p., Hera. 

W. p., Sp., Hera., Bir., Tarn., O., B.ass. 

W. p., Sp., Hem., Map., Bir., Tam. 

0., Bass., Elm, Ash. 
Hem., Bir., W. bir., N. p. 



Ced. 

Ced. 

W. ced. 

Hem., W. p., W. bir., N. p., J. p., Bala 



42 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

TABLE 12. -MICHIGAN KIKMS WlUt'H BUV WOOD PRODUCTS "IN THE ROUGH."— Continued. 



Uuuuty and town. 



Industry. 



Firm. 



Wood used. 



UpvcT Peninsula.- 
Continued. 

Ontonagon: 

Ewing 

Ontonagon 

Schoolcraft: 

Manistique. . . . 
Manistiquc. . . . 



1'. M.P 

P. M.P 

Boxes 

Ties, poles, posts 



Leech, M. F 

Noble-Corwin Lbr. Co . 

Goodwillie Bros 

Wliite Marble Lime Co 



Hem., Map., Bir., Tarn. 
Hem. 



Hem., Map., Bass., W. p., W. bir. 
Ced., Hem., Tam. 



Northern part of 
Lower Peninsula. 

Alpena: 

Alpena 

.Mpcna 

Alpena 

Aljjcna 

Alpena 

Antrim: 

Elk Rapids 

Mancclona 

Mancelona 

Arenac: 

Au Gres 

Au Gres 

Au Gres 

Omer 

StandLsh 

Standish 

Benzie: 

Benzonia 

Frankfort 

Honor 

Honor 

Lake Ann 

Thorn psonville. . 
Thompsonville . . 
Thompsonville. . 
Thompsonville. . 

Charlevoix: 

Baysboro 

Boyne City 

Boyne City 

Boyne City 

Boyne Falls 

Boyne Falls 

Charlevoix 

East .lordan. . . . 
East Jordan . . . . 
East Jordan . . . . 
East Jordan . . . . 
East Jordan . . . . 

Cheboygan: 

Cheboygan 

Cheboygan 

Cheboygan 

Cheboygan 

Cheboygan 

Tower 

Tower 



Ties 

Pulpwd 

Veneer 

Handles, Fixtures, P. M 
P., vehicles, Misc 

Veneer 

Wd. dist 

Wd. dist 

Wd. dist 

SI. coop 

P. M.P 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Wd. ware 

Ties 

Veneer 

SI. coop 

Wd. dist 

Veneer 

Wd. ware 

Handles 

SI. coop 

Wd. dist 

SI. coop 

Ties, posts 

P. M.P 

Wd. ware 

Wd. ware, P.M. P.... 

Chairs, handles 

Handles, ties 

Wd. dist 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Boxes, P. M.P 

Pulpwd 

Tics, poles 

SI. coop 

Ties, poles, posts 

SI. coop 

Handles 



Eales Bros. & Co. . . . 
Fletcher Paper Co. . . 
Michigan Veneer Co. 



Northern Planing Mill Co 

Walker Veneer & Panel Works. 



W. bir.. Ash, W. p., N. p , Sp., Ilcui. 
Map., Bir. 



Lake Superior Iron & Chem. Co. 

Antrim Chemical Co 

Antrim Iron Co 



Goodchild, E 

Herman Bros 

Herman Bros. & Johnson 

Rouse, E.J 

International Milk Products Co. 
Michigan Cooperage Co-, Ltd. . . 



Sweltzer & Maise 

East Shore Woodenware Co. . 

Guelph Patent Cask Co 

Sevmore & Peck Co 

Habbler, Wm., Co 

Desmond, F. C 

Dixon, E. M., &Co 

National Wood Dish Co 

Piqua Handle Mfg. Co., The. 



Tam. 



Map., Bee. 



Map., Bee 
Map., Bee., Bass. 



Elk Cement & Lime Co 

Boyne City Chemical Co 

Elm Cooperage Co., The 

White, W. H., & Co \ Ced. 

Newson, James W. p. 

Williams, G. G., Woodenware Co ' Mai>. 

Wallace, Wm Ced., W. p. 

Bennett Handle Co Bir , Map., Bee. 

Black Land & Lumber Co Bir., Map., Bee. 

East Jordan Chemical Co 

East Jordan Cooperage Co 

Haight, A. M., Co 



Cheboygan Novelty Turning Works.. W. liir., Ced.. Po|), 

Cheboygan Paper Co i 

Lombard & Rittenhouse | Ced. 

Nelson Lumber Co . 



Rittenhouse, John, Co . 

Forest Lumber Co 

Stratton, D. A 



Ced. 

Bee., Bir., Map. 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 43 

T.\BLE 12.— MICHIGAN FIRMS WHICH BUY WOOD PRODUCTS "IN THE ROUGH."— Continued. 



County and town. 



Industry. 



Firm. 



Wood used. 



Northern part of 

Lower Peninsula.— 

Continued. 

Clare: 

Clare 

Temple 

Crawford: 

Frederick 

Grayling 

Grayling 

Grayling 

Grayling 

Emmet: 

Alanson 

Carp Lake 

Cecil 

Harbor Springs. . 
Harbor Springs. . 
Harbor Springs. . 

Levering 

Pellston 

Pellston 

Petosky 

Petoskv 

Van 

Gladwin: 

Butman 

Grand Traverse: 

Interlochen. . . 
Traverse City. 
Traverse City . 
Traverse City . 
Traverse City. 



Iosco: 

Au Sable . . 

Iosco 

Oscoda.. . . 
Whitmore . 



Kalkaska: 

Kalkaska. . . 
Rapid Run. 



Leelanau: 

Buttons Bay . 



Manistee: 

Arcadia. . 
Eastlake. . 
Filer City. 
Manistee. 
Manistee. 
Manistee. 
Manistee. 



Mason: 

Ludington. 
Ludington. 
Ludington. 
Ludington. 

Missaukee: 

Jennings. . 



Montmorency: 

Atlanta 



Ogemaw: 

Marion 

Ro.se City . . . 
Rose City . . . 
Rose City . . . 
West Branch. 
West Branch . 



SI. coop 

SI. coop., ties 

SI. coop 

Wd. dist 

Dowels 

Wd. dist 

P. M.P 

Ties 

SI. coop. 

SI. coop 

Handles 

SI. coop 

Handles, P. M. P 

SI. coop 

SI. coop., handles 

Wd. ware, handles 

Pulpwd 

Wd. ware 

Ties, posts 

Wd. dist 

SI. coop 

V'eneer 

Wd. ware, boxes, veneer. 

Boxes, P. M.P 

Veneer 

Ties 

Wd. dist 

Poles, posts 

P. M.P 

Handles 

Shingles 

Boxes 

Veneer 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Veliicles 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Veneer 

Veneer 

Wd. ware 

Poles, SI. coop 

Wd. dist 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

P. M.P 

SI. coop 

Wd. dist 

SI. coop., P. M.P 

Shoe 



Rhoades &. Shafer 

Temple Mfg. Co 

Walsh Mfg. Co 

Crown Chemical Co 

Grayhng Dowel Co 

Grayhng Wood Products Co 

Sailing & Hanson Co 

Markham, M. S 

Hunt, M.M 

Emmet Lumber Co 

Clark, W. J., & Sons 

Harbor Springs Lbr. Co 

Harbor Springs Woodenware Co. . 

Levering Stave Mfg. Co 

Jackson & Pindle 

Pellston Turning & Mfg. Co 

Bear River Paper & Bag Co 

Washburn Mfg. Co 

Van Every Bros 

Thomas, Arthur E 

Wyhe Cooperage Co., Ltd 

Beitner, Wm., & Son (estate) . . . . 

Oval Wood Dish Co 

South Side Co 

Wells-Higman Co 

Loud's, H. M., Sons Co 

Iosco Turpentine Co 

Loud's, H. M., Sons Co 

Leslie Bros 

Kalkaska Handle Co 

Madden, Jerry, Shingle Co 

Denster, Leo 

Arcadia Furniture Co 

Peters, R. G., Salt & Lbr. Co. . . . 

Filer & Sons 

Buckley & Douglas Lbr. Co., The 

Overpack, S. C 

Sands (Louis) Salt & Lumber Co . 
State Lumber Co 

Carrom-.Archarena Co 

Ludington Basket Co 

Ludington Woodenware Co 

Stearns Salt & Lbr. Co 

Cadillac 

Wyllyo, Charles 

Walsh Mfg. Co 

Joslin & Stark 

Rose City Mfg. Co 

Rose City Wood Distillation Co. . 

Batchelor Timber Co 

Chicago Last & Die Co 



Bee., Map., Bir. 
Hem., Map., Bir., 



Bass., Bee. 



Bir., Bee., Map. 

Bir., Bee., Bass., Map. 

Map. 
Ced. 

Map. 



Map., Bu-., W. p. 
W. p.. Hem., Tarn. 



W. p.. Hem., Bee., Tam. 



Bir., Map., Bee. 



Bass., Pop. 



Ash, W. 0., Elm, Ho., W. p. 



Map., Bee. 



N. p. 



Map., W. p. 
Map. 



44 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

TABLE 12.— MICHIGAN FIRMS WHICH BUY WOOD PRODUCTS "IN THE ROUGH "—Continued. 



County and town. 



Industry. 



Wood used. 



Northern part oj 

Lower Poiinsula.— 

Continued. 

Osceola: 

Eyart 

Eyart 

Otsego: 

Gay lord 

Gaylord 

Sailing 

Vanderbilt 

Waters 

Presque Isle: 

I hiaway 

( liiaway 

( >naway 

Onaway 

Rogers 

Rogers 

Wexford: 

Cadillac 

Cadillac 

Cadillac 

Cadillac 

Cadillac 

Hattietta 

Manton 

Me.<;ick 

Mesick 



Handles 
Handles 

Shoe. . . 
Shoe. . . 
P. M. P 
Handles 
P. M. P 



Handles, P. M.P. yehicle; 

Ties, posts, poles 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Wd. dist 

Handles 

SI. coop 

^'enee^ 

Wd. dist 

SI. coop 

Shoe 

Handles 

SI. coop 



Champion Tool & Handle Co Map., Bee., Elm. 

Eyart Tool Co ' Map., Bee. 



Crawford. McGregor & Canbv Co., 

Da.>-ton Last Block Co 

Jensen, L 

Olds & Hixson 

Stephenson. Henry, Co 



American Wood Rim Co. . . . 

Chandler, Geo. M 

Gardner Peterman & Co. . . . 
LobdelKt Churchill Mfg. Co. 

Fuhrman, Gustaye H 

Loud-Haeft Lbr. Co 



Cadillac Chemica Co- . . . 
Cadillac Handle Co., The. 



Cadillac Mfg. Co 

Cadillac \'eueer Co., The. 

Cummer-Diggins Co 

Fellers Bros 

Willi.am Bros. Co 

Mesick Turning Works. . . 
Tripp, L. J 



Map., Bass. 

Map. 

Map., Hem., W, p. 

Bee., Bir., Map. 

Hem., W. p. 



Map., Bir. 
W. ced. 



Ash, Bee., Bass., Che., Elm, Bir., Map 
Hem 



Map., Bass. 
Map. 



Sovthcrn part oj 
Lower Peninsula. 

Allegan: 

Douglas 

Hooper 

Barry: 

Hastings 

Bay: 

Bay City 

Bay City 

Bay City 

Bay City 

Bay City 

Bay City 

Bay City 

Bay City 

Kawkawlin 

Pinconning 

Pinconning 

Berrien: 

Benton Harbor. . 
Benton Harbor. . 

Niles 

Branch: 

Athens 

Bronson 

Coldwater 

Coldwater 

Coldwater 

Sherwood 



Veneer. . 
SI. coop. 



Wd. ware . 



Weed.. E. E.. & Co. 
Deal, Jas 



Hodge, E. 



Wd. ware, SI. coop Bonsfield & Co. 



Misc 1 Goldie Mfg. Co 

Veneer I Hanson Ward Veneer Co. 



Michigan Cedar Co. 

Michigan Pipe Co 

Michigan Turpentine Co 

Seyerance, H. B 

Standard Hoop Co., Ltd 

McGinness. John 

SI. coop I Jennings, Edward 

si. coop I Sandusky Cooperage & Lbr. Co . 



Ties, poles 

Tics, poles, posts 

Wd. dist 

Vehicles 

SI. coop 
SI. coop 



Boxes 1 Colly Hinckley Co. . . 

Veneer Thayer, Geo. B., Co . 

Pulpwd French P.aper Co. . . . 



SI. coop 

\'cncer 

SI. coop 

T. coop 

Handles, Sp.-Ath. 
P. .M. P 



Snyder & Bisbee 

Frederick, W.H.,& Co.. 
Calkins, B.H„& Son Co. 
Coldwater Cooperage Co . 
Nellenberg, J. B., & Sons. 
French. J. Vi'.. & Sons, . . . 



Ash 



W. p., Bass., Map., Bir., Bee., Hem., 

Tam., Pop., Ash. 
Map. 



Ced. 



Bee., Hem., Elm, Map., Pop. 



Hick., Map., Elm, Bass. 
W. 0., R. o. 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 45 

TABLE 12.— MICHIGAN FIRMS WHICH BUY WOOD PRODUCTS "IN THE ROUGH."— Continued. 



County and town. 



Industry. 



Firm. 



Wood used. 



Southcrti part oj 

Lower Peninsula.— 

Continued. 



Cass: 

Dowagiac. . 
Glennwood . 



Eaton: 

Charlotte. 



Genesee: 

Clio... 



Gratiot: 

Middleton. 



Huron: 

Sebewaing. 



Ionia: 

Belding . 
Ionia. . . 
Lyons.. . 



Matherton. 



Isabella: 

Mt. Pleasant. 
Shephard 



Jackson: 

Jackson. 



Kalamazoo: 

Augusta. . 



Kent: 

Ada 

Algoma. . 
Edgerton. 
Grand Rapids 
Grand Rapids 
Grand Rapids 
Grand Rapids 
Grand Rapids 
Kent City 
Lowell . . . 



Lenawee: 

Adrian . . 
Fairfield . 
Pahnyra. 



Macomb: 

Leno.x 

Lenox 

Mt. Clemens. 
Mt. Clemens. 
Richmond. . . 
Romeo 



Mecosta: 

Big Rapids . 



Monroe: 

Monroe . 



Montcalm: 

Vickeryville. 

Muskegon: 

Montague. . 
Muskegon. . 



P. M. P 

SI. coop., T. coop 

Handles 

P. M. P 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Veneer 

Veneer 

.\gr. imp., handles, Sp.- 

Ath 

SI. coop 

Veneer 

SI. coop 

Handles 

Veneer 

Veneer 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Ties, poles, posts 

Veneer 

Wd. ware 

Ties, poles, posts 

Ties, poles, posts 

Coffins 

Wd. ware 

Handles 

Veneer, SI. coop 

Boxes, Handles, P. M. P 
Sp.-Ath 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Veneer 

Ties, poles 

SI. coop 

Veneer 

Pulpwd 



Doal & Murphy 

Hampton Stock Farm Co 

Fenn Mfg. Co 

Stevens, C 

Middleton Cooperage Co 

Liken & Bach 

Belding Basket Co 

Stafford, E. H., Mfg. Co 

Lyons Handle Co 

Middleton Cooperage Co 

GorhamBros. Co., The 

Bell, Edwin, Co., The 

.American Fork & Hoe Co 

.\ugusta Basket Co 

Kent Basket Co 

Curtis, G.S 

Rice, Geo 

Dregge, Groover Lbr. Co 

Grand Rapids Veneer Works 

Rex Mfg. Co 

Union City Lbr. Co 

Warner-Newton Lbr. Co 

Side, R. J 

Michigan Bent Rim & Basket Mfg. 
Co 

Cherrv, J. M 

White Bros ' 

Eringer Vogt Co., The 

Harr, F 

Lenox Hoop Co 

Snook & Mark 

Snook, T. W., Son 

Haar, A 

Struthers Cooperage Co 

Hood & Wright 

Sterling, W. C, ct Sons 

Chittenden, C. E., & Co 

Miller Package & Fruit Co 

Central Paper Co 



W. p., Pop., Bass. 

Map., 0., Ash, Ehn. 
W. p., 0. 



Ash, 0., Hick. 



Ash. 



Ced. 

W. p., ash. 

Bass.,Map.,Bee.,Ash, Elm, W. o., R. o. 

Ash. 

Map., Hick., Ash, Bass., 0., Pop. 



46 SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

TABLE 12.— MICHIGAN FIRMS WHICH BUY WOOD PRODUCTS "IN THE ROUGH."— Concluded. 



County and town. 



Industry. 



Firm. 



Wood used. 



Southern part of 

Lower Peninsula.— 

Continued. 



Oakland: 

Holly . . . 
Pontiac . 



Ottawa: 

Grand Haven . 

Saginaw: 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

Saginaw 

St. Clair: 

Marine City. . 
Port Huron. . . 
Port Huron. . . 

St Joseph: 

Wasepi 

Shiawassee: 

Durand 

Owos.so 

Owosso 

Tuscola: 

Mayville 

Reese 

Vassar 

Van Buren: 

Decatur 

Decatur 

Decatur 

Hartford 

Hartford 

Lawrence 

Lawton 

Paw Paw 

South Haven. . 

Washtenaw: 

Milan 

Ypsilanti 

Wayne: 

Detroit 

Detroit 

Detroit 

Detroit 

Detroit 

Detroit 

Detroit 



Vehicles, car 

Boxes, handles, Sp.-Ath 

Veneer 

Misc 

Boxes, Wd. ware, Inst. . 

Hd. ware 

Poles, posts 

Poles, posts 

SI. coop 

SI. coop. Misc 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Posts 

Pulpwd 



P.M. P. 



SI. coop 

Bo.xes, handles, Sp.-Ath 
Agr. imp., handles 

Bo.xes 

SI. coop 

Boxes 

SI. coop 

SI. coop., veneer 

SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Boxes, SI. coop 

SI. coop 

Veneer 

SI. COO)) 

Boxes, veneer 

P. M. P 

Agr. imp., handle.s, Sp. 
Ath 

Telegraph poles 

Ties, poles, posts 

Ties, poles, posts 

Pulpwd 

Ties, poles, posts 

Wd. ware 

SI. coop 



Holly Bending Co... 
Pontiac Turning Co. 



Grand Haven Basket Factory . 



Berst Mfg. Co 

Lufkin Rule C'o., The 

PaLmerton, F. G., Woodenware Co. 

Phillips & Seelev 

Porter Cedar Co 

Saginaw Heading & Veneer Co 

U. S. Tie Plug Co 

Wyhe, J. T., & Co 

Mead Cooperage Co 



Baker, S., & Sons 

Hayes, T. J., Co 

Michigan Sulphite Fiber Co . 



Palmer, Geo. W. 



Hercules Hoop Co. 
Turnerman, J. N. . 
Wood, M., &Co.. 



Haines, .Arthur 

Pardee, Lawson 

Butcher Folding Crate Co. 



Decatur Hoop & Lumber Co. 

Hinckley-Roberts Co 

Peusinger, J. W 

Hartford Stave Co 

Walker, L.P 

Wallace & Lockwood 

Lawton Basket & Box Co. . . 

Deal, Jos 

Pierce-Williams Co., The. ... 



Lamkin, 0. P. . 
Deikuim, C. W. 



Brownlic & Co 

Detroit Cedar & Lbr. Co 

Detroit Lbr. Co 

Detroit Sulphite Pulp & Paper Co. 

Grace Harbor Lbr. Co 

Perfection Mfn. Co 

National Mfg. Co 



W. c, R. 0. 

Map., Hick., Ash, Ehn. 



Bir. 

N. p., Bass., Map. 

W. p., Bass. 

Ced. 

Elm, Map., 0., Ash, Hick., Bass., Pop. 



W. p., W. 0., R. 0. 



Map., Ehn, Ash. 
Ash, 0., Hick. 



Ehn. 
Bee., Map. 



Bee, Map., Bu-. 



Bee., Map., Bass., Bir., ,\sp. 

W. o., Bass. 
Ash, Hick. 



Bass., Map., Bir. 




PERCENTAGE OF MICHIGAN 
FARM LAND IN WOODS,ACCORD- 
ING TO THE CENSUS OF 1910 



REGION I- FARM LAND LESS THAN 10% WOODED 



II REGION n- FARMLAND FROM 10% TO 20% WOODED 
Y///A REGION in- FARM LAM D FROM 20T^^ TO 40^0 WOODED 
^^^ REGION IV-FARMLAND FROM -tO^o TO 60% WOODED 
^^^ REGION V-FARM LAND FROM 60^ TO SOroWOODED 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 

T.iBLE 13.— PRINCIPAL BUYERS OF BL.^CK WALNUT LOGS IN THE UNITED STATES. 



47 



State. 


Town. 


Firm name. 




New Haven 

Belvidere 

Cairo 

Chicago 

Kankakee 

Rockford 

Fort Wayne 

Indianapolis 

IndianapoUs 

Lawrenceburg 

Baltimore 

Boston 










Singer Mfg. Co. 








Folev & WilUams. 












Indiana Veneer & Lbr. Co. 








Batesville Lhr. & Veneer Co. 


Maryland 

Massachusetts 


Williamson Veneer Co. 

Mason & Hamlin. 
National Casket Co. 


Massachusetts 


Chicopee Falls 


J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. 
J. W. Stein Organ Co. 






Hood & Wright. 




East St. Louis 








Missouri 


St. Louis 


Pickerel Walnut Co. 


Ohio 




The Ohio Veneer Co., 2624 Colerain Ave. 


Ohio 






Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Wisconsin 


Piqua 

Philadelphia 

Oshkosh 


George W. Hartzell. 
A. H. Fo.\ Gun Co. 
Paine Lumber Co., Ltd. 



APPENDIX. 



FACTS RELATING TO THE AVOODLOT SITUATION IN MICHIGAN. 

The agricnltnral development of a heavily wooded region is a slow 
and difficult process. The first farms in southern and central Michigan, 
as throughout most of the East, undoubtedly contained a great deal 
more woodland than tilled land. As the zone of pioneering was pushed 
farther north, more and more of the woodlot area in the longer settled 
sections was cleared for cultivation. The progress of agriculture can 
therefore be roughly gauged by the proportiou of the total farm land 
which is in woods. This proportion is shown for Michigan in the map of 
"woodlot regions" (page 48). Each of these "regions'' consists of coun- 
ties having similar proportions of woodland to total farm land, accord- 
ing to the 13th census (1910). The different regions are shown by shad- 
ing, the heaviest shading representing that in which the farms are from 
60 to 80 per cent wooded. Tables 14 and 15 and Diagram 1 are based 
on these regions, so that the chief facts relating to the status of wood- 
lots in any part of the State can be easily ascertained after locating on 
the map the ''woodlot region' in which the area falls. 



48 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



^ t- 1^ o •* 






O ^ ^— ^ ^'^ c: c= o oc ^ 
ic c^ z: r: T-l c<j — ^ T^ :/D 



■►^ g a.g 

o-^ I a s 

-o — -s-o-o 

B C C C C 

a;^ g a'a 



O C3 O O O 

a f- a o. o. 
o ^ o o o 






3 S a P. 



§^ g o E: 

* o ^^ " 
^S.S.2 3 



:z: o o o rf 
g j^ o o P- 
o 3 & S-73 



C5 rt cd C3 O 







Of 

Uj ^ 

1, ^ 

^ CO 

^ ^ k o 
«: ^ ^ "T 



^ > H.J Q 



k.k^^ 



ki ^ 






S8^l 



51 



^5> 

5 



~" "■ "■ ^ S3idD\/ 



O O O O 
C) (\i -^ 



SELLING WOODLOT PRODUCTS ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 



49 



The table shows that where the woodlots are largest, larmiug is least 
important; laud values are lowest; the perceutage of improved farm 
laud is least; aud the value received for woodlot products ou the average 
farm is greatest. Just the reverse is true of the regions with the smallest 
proportion of wooded farm laud. The figures given in the last line of 
the table bring out forcibly the importance of the woodlot in the dif- 
ferent regions. They show that while woodlot products comprised 6.4 
per cent of the value of all farm incomes in the entire State, the wood- 
lot income from region IV was over a fifth aud that from region V over 
a fourth of the total farm income in these counties. 

How the growth of farming has affected Michigan woodlots is shown 
in Table 15, which gives the actual acreage in farm woodland in 1910, 
and the per cent of increase or decrease in farm woodland area in the 
thirty years from 1880 to 1910. 

TABLE 15.— FARM WOODLAND IX MICHIGAN, BY WOODLOT REGIONS. 1910, AND PER CENT OF INCREASE 

OR DECREASE IN AREA SINCE ISSO. 



Woodlot regions. 



Farm 

woodland area, 

1910. 



Increase or 

decrease, 18S0- 

1910. 



I 


.\cres. Per cent. 
209.209 53.9 decrease. 


II 


1 . ()9S , 04:; 46.6 decrease. 


Ill 




IV 


216,211 SS.6 increase. 


V 


20,2.')5 J * 






Total 


2.927,554 I 34.2 decrease. 







*Alger county, with GS.6 per cent of its farm land wooded, was not organized iu ISSO. aud no comparison is possible. 



The deduction which this table appears to justify is that for the 
present, at least, the farm woodland area can be expected to increase 
only in those regions where farming has not yet occupied large areas. 
Elsewhere the decrease will be rapid as more and more of the woodlot 
area is claimed for cultivation. 



!!J!|aii:!;;:;:i;:;i;::;:; 




liiliii;!-;^:::: 

lillillliiij 









!it« 
tit 



■ ^ Gay lord Bros. • ■ ^^^^2 ' 
J Makers 'j^" \nlTf!^ "" 

P^T. JAN, 21, 1908 



